John the Baptist

Hi everyone my name is Janie. I'm attending Brigham Young University in Idaho. I'm taking a class on the New Testament section of the Bible and I will be posting weekly about my research, things I find fascinating and just whatever I feel like.

This week my the topic I've chosen is about the importance that John the baptist was born.



Many of us know this picture, but for those who don't, this is John baptizing Jesus Christ in the Jordan river.


The story of John's birth can be found in the Bible under Luke chapter 1. Johns parents, Zacharias and Elisabeth thought that they would never be able to have children .Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was ^abarren, and they both were now well ^bstricken in years.

 However, one night while in a temple the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him his wife would bear him a son and that he would be named John. Gabriel spoke of what a great man he would become and that many would love him and that "he would be filled with the Holy Ghost even in his mothers womb".(Luke 1:15)

Six months later Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary(Elizabeth's cousin) and told her that she would bear a son, calling him Jesus and that he would be the son of God. Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be ^aimpossible.  If we believe this then we know that God can help us through anything.

This is what the Zacharias says through the spirit of the Holy Ghost, of  his John the Baptist and his importance on this earth;
 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to ^aprepare his ways;
 77 To give ^aknowledge of salvation unto his people by the ^bremission of their sins,

 79 To give ^alight to them that sit in ^bdarkness and in the shadow of ^cdeath, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

It takes a special soul to be the one chosen to baptize Jesus Christ, the literal Son of God. He is a prophet and teacher. He lead the people in good ways, ways that would make them happy in their lives. He gave people, and still can, light in darkness, a way to follow. We can have peace within ourselves if we follow the example of men  such as John the baptist. He had to live in such a way to live comparable to Christ and believe without a doubt that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.