LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
John the Baptist: Life and Ministry
Submitted
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
NBST 515 – D15
New Testament Orientation 1
By
December 9, 2017
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................1
Life of John the Baptist ....................................................................................................1
Childhood and Adulthood....................................................................................................2
Death....................................................................................................................................5
Ministry of John the Baptist.............................................................................................6
Application for today.........................................................................................................9
Conclusion........................................................................................................................11
Bibliography.....................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
As Christians we look to Gods word for wisdom, guidance, in an effort to learn about the
Lord and learn from the lives of those before us. The men and women mentioned in the Bible are
not done so without reason. God deemed them impactful enough to have us still read about their
lives thousands of years later. While there are many who are worth mentioning, John the Baptist
stands out among the rest. He was a man who was sent on a holy mission to prepare the way for
the Messiah, a man who lived his life with upmost devotion to God, and who died still
proclaiming the truth of the gospel on his lips. Through in-depth examination of scripture, as
well as studying literature on John the Baptist, I was able to learn about the man who the Lord
created and called to incredible things. He’s a biblical example of predestination and what it
looks like to live the life we were created to while still having the free will to choose. His birth
was a miracle, his life was lived in sacrifice to the gospel, and even unto death his love for the
Lord shone like a bright light in the darkness. He is an example to all in what a life lived in true
dedication to the gospel looks like, as well as an example of living the life we are called and
created to. I want to examine the life, death, ministry and eternal impact John the Baptist had and
still has today.
Life of John the Baptist
If we are to look at the life of John, the Baptist we must look at every aspect presented to
us. The four gospels all speak of John the Baptist, his life and ministry. John the Baptist is
arguably one of the most significant and well-known figures in the Bible. All scripture is God-
breathed and useful for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16). When we keep this in mind it goes without
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saying that someone who appears as much as John does in the gospel is someone of great
significance, who the Lord deems as someone for us to not only know of but also learn from.
Below we will walk through the major times in Johns life in order to see what made him the man
he was as well as examine his death and its significance.
Childhood and Adulthood
In order to look at the life of John the Baptist we must start at the beginning. John was
born to Zachariah and Elizabeth, two people who came from a line of priests, were righteous in
the eyes of the Lord, and whom lived faithfully. They loved the Lord and followed His will for
their lives, part of that will was for Elizabeth to be barren, which brought much sorrow and
isolation from others. I can only imagine they felt forgotten and like they didn’t not have a place
among many of those around them because the Lord had not blessed them with a child, but they
remained faithful.1 When looking to scripture we see a detailed description of the birth of John in
Luke 1. In his book on John the Baptist, F.B. Meyer talks in more detail the events surrounding
the announcement of Johns birth
The assistant priest had retired; and Zachariah, for the first and only time in his life, stood
alone in the holy shrine, while the incense which he had strewn on the glowing embers
arose in fragrant clouds, enveloping and veiling the objects around, whilst it symbolized
the ascent of prayer and intercession not only from his own heart, but form the hearts of
his people, into the presence of God.
Zachariah was participating in a once in a lifetime event for him as a priest. I would imagine his
emotions would have already been high simply because he was about to enter the holy of holies
for the first and last time in his life. I would imagine that his mind was preoccupied with all that
1 F. B.CMeyer. John the Baptist, 9.
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he was about to experience. That he might have even been thinking about his and Elizabeth’s
unanswered prayer for a child and the potential of praying again for God to move in mighty
ways. As this is all going on the angel Gabriel appears. It is noted that Gabriel is on the right side
of the alter. This is not a detail that is just thrown in there. I would imagine this is done in order
to reiterate the significance of the moment since the right side is a place of honor. Luke 1:13-15
gives a glimpse of their first interaction, “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
forCyour prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, andCyou shall call
his name John.CAnd you will have joy and gladness, and many willCrejoice at his birth,Cfor he will
beCgreat before the Lord...”2 John understandably was shocked and was in a state of disbelief at
what he was seeing and hearing. The thing he and his wife had prayed for and assumed the Lord
would not provide was going to happen, just in a very unexpected way. Meyers speaks to
We can believe in the wonder-working power of God in the distant horizon or the past, or
on the equally distant horizon of the future; but that he should have a definite and
particular care for our life, that our prayers should touch him, that he should give us the
desires of our heart – this staggers us, and we feel it too good to be true.3
If I were Zachariah this is what I would be thinking. I so often limit God in my own life even
after seeing his sovereign grace in the life of so many of those who came before me as well as
those around me. After this, Zachariah questioned him which resulted in him becoming dumb
due to his doubt in what Gabriel told him. As he left the temple the people were waiting for him
to hear what he would say but he was unable to hear them or speak of what he had experienced.
As Elizabeth progressed in her pregnancy, she was overjoyed but she kept herself hidden for the
first five months of her pregnancy. It was after this that Mary visited Elizabeth, Luke 1:41 states
the following of the interaction, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby
leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Even in the womb John
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in theCEnglish Standard Version
3 Ibid, 11-12.
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recognized the presence of the Messiah and reacted with joy. The Lord did not place John with
the parents he did without reason or thought. Eight days after his birth, it came time to officially
name John. When Elizabeth told those around her his name would be John many were shocked
because he was not named after anyone in his family specifically his father. Due to his still being
dumb Zachariah had to confirm through writing that the baby’s name would be John, as a result
of his faithfulness and obedience to what Gabriel had told him on behalf of the Lord, Zachariah
was granted the ability to hear and speak again. He immediately blessed the Lord, his sudden
ability to speak again shocked all those around him and causing it to be talked about throughout
the country.
Throughout infancy and childhood John was raised with scripture intertwined into every
aspect of his life While we don’t have many details on the day to day of John’s growing up, we
can imagine that his parents took seriously their charge to raise John in the ways of the Lord.
Telling him of what Gabriel has said years before. They would ensure he was well educated and
verses on scripture and that he would know the important of the call on his life. John was called
to a life of sacrifice, this created a desire in his which in starting from young age his mind being
saturated with the thoughts of sacrifice. Zachariah and Elizabeth were both righteous before the
Lord, so they would take the same care in making sure their son was raised to be the same. While
it is unsure when exactly they died, we do know that John was very independent at this time and
was able to sustain himself. This is when we went into the wilderness and started essentially
surviving off the land. This created a strength in him that went beyond physical, John was strong
in spirit, a man is measured by his ability to curb or subdue feelings not the other way around
and John personified this. He was not concerned with other opinions of him or how he lives his
life, His only concern was honoring he Lord in action and through his sacrifice. As John grew so
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did his affections for the Lord and his desires to complete the mission set before him. In all of
this John still had a choice, his parents had a choice. They could have never told John that he was
the forerunner, he could have chosen a different path. The Lord would have still loved him in
that, but the Lord knew the hearts of Zachariah and Elizabeth and that they would take seriously
the charge that was set on them as Johns parents. He knew John and that his heart and joy would
be found in the gospel and exalting of the Messiah. In sections below, we will go into more
details on the ministry of John the Baptist which encompasses much of his adult life. What we do
know of the character of John is that he was a man who lived a life of sacrifice and found much
joy in it. He willingly faded into the background after baptizing Jesus, using it to point to the
Messiah and ensuring those around him knew he was a prophet whose joy was to point others to
the Messiah.
Death
Just as he did in his life John pointed to the Messiah even unto death. If we are to
examine the life of John, the Baptist we must also look at his death and the significance. God is a
God of details and the same is true in Johns life and death. After baptizing Jesus John had started
to fade into the background. He has been called to prepare the way for the Messiah and his life
up to that point had done so. In John 3:30 John the Baptist stated the following, “He must
increase, but I must decrease.” His time as the forerunner was coming to an end and it was time
for Jesus to take the centerstage. During his time preaching the message of the Messiah to come,
John had many who followed him, believing everything he spoke of. While John was a man who
had many who loved him, he also had some who he angered. One person specifically was
Herodias. She was married to king Herod but had previously been married to his brother. Herod
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and Herodias both left their spouses and soon married each other. Herod feared John and putting
him to death because he was a prophet. Herodias disliked John because he rebuked Herod and
told him that he was not to be with her because it was unlawful to have your brother’s wife.
Because Herod feared sentencing John to death, he put him in jail. Herod’s birthday fell
sometime after this and it was during a great feast with many important men that a plan to have
Johns head would be put into action. In his commentary on Matthew, St Hilary talks of what
happens next, “Herodias had a daughter, and when her dancing pleased Herod on his birthday,
she received a promise from him that she could have whatever reward she wished. The girl,
prompted by her mother, requested that the head of John... be brought to her and offered on a
plate.”4 Herodias sin ran so deep that she was controlled by her desire to see John die so the life
she was leading wouldn’t be questioned or taken away from her. John could have chosen to hold
his tongue, he could have chosen to beg for mercy and take back what he said, but he stood true
to what he knew to be law and a command from the Lord and it cost him his life.
Ministry of John the Baptist
Throughout his adult life John spent much time preparing the way for the Messiah. His life’s
purpose was to prepare for the bridegroom. In John 3:28-39 we see John reference to the
bridegroom, “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,C‘I am not the Christ, butCI have been
sent before him. ‘The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.CThe friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him,Crejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine
is now complete.” John said this later in his ministry but as start to look at his journey in ministry
from the beginning we will see the words he spoke above were true throughout. We are given
4 St. Hilary Of Poitiers, and D.H. Williams.CCommentary on Matthew, 159.
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details about the location of much of Johns ministry and life to be the dessert. These details are
not given in vail but as a correlation or visual reference to connect to the lessons being taught. In
John T Carroll’s book Luke, he goes into a more in depth explaining as to the explaining
symbolism of the setting of so much of Johns ministry, “The desolate setting aptly symbolizes
the separation from the previous way of life that John demands of his auditors, as he insists on
metanoia, transformation of heart and mind.” 5 He then goes on to correlate the symbolic
expression of baptism, “The baptism ritual rives symbolic expression to this change, which much
then issue in a change in conduct and relationship.”6
As we look at more aspects of Johns ministry, we see examples throughout of
opportunities for John to take claim as the Messiah or to bring glory to himself, but he instead
constantly told those who he came in contact with to prepare themselves that the Messiah was to
come. We finally see an interaction between John and Jesus when he is baptized by John. John is
instantly hesitant to even baptize Jesus, stating he couldn’t baptize his when Jesus should be the
one to baptize John, Matthew 3:16-17 says the following,
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the
heavens were opened to Him, and He sawCthe Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him.CAnd suddenly a voiceCcame from heaven, saying,C“This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
We see something very significant in Jesus baptism. Not only is this the Messiah who is
being baptized but we also see the trinity being revealed in his baptism. I cannot imagine what
the people who were there that day experienced, the wonder, the questions, and for many I’m
sure the final piece that was needed to bring them to a place of understanding and faith in God.
Right after this, Johns followers came to him with concern because Jesus was baptizing more
5 John T. Carroll. Luke, 91.
6 Ibid
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people than he was. In his book John the Baptist Forerunner, Jerome Kodell shows us how Johns
response speaks to his character. He said,” John does not rise to this bait, responding that there is
no competition in God’s work, but each receives the part of ministry God gives him. John has
constantly deferred to Jesus, defining his role here again as the one who as sent before him.” 7 It
was shortly after this that John started to fade into the background and Jesus took the rightful
place as the center of focus. This was all part of God’s plan in Johns life and part of the sacrifice
he was called to. In Luke 7:18-35 we see what could be interpreted as a very human moment of
doubt from John who had been in prison for some time. He had sent his disciples to question
Jesus, asking if he was the one (Messiah) or if he should start looking for another. This could
have come from a place of exhaustion on Johns part. He fought the good fight and had done
much work and needed confirmation that his work was done and the work he had done preparing
the way had come to an end. While this could be true Roberto Martinez in his commentary on
this passage of scripture offers up a potentially different perspective offering an explanation for
the doubt, “He regards the question about the identity of Jesus not as a doubt but as a way by
which the Baptist helped his disciples to understand the “truth” about Jesus more fully.”8 While
we might not know the answer to our question about the meaning behind Johns questioning, we
can use the information above to help us examine the potential meanings. John never made it out
of jail and after much time there was untimely beheaded because he refused to conform or bow
down to the pressures around him. John the Baptist was a man who in many ways was greatly
admired and serves as a great example to us today of a life well lived for the sake of the gospel.
Application for today
7 Jerome Kodell. John the Baptist: Forerunner, 35.
8 Roberto Martínez.CThe Question of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Indictment of the Religious Leaders: A
Critical Analysis of Luke 7:18-35, 6.
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While there are many things to learn from the life of John the Baptist two things that
stand out to me specifically is Gods specific plan for Johns life and the lessons we can learn
about faithfulness to the Lord through his life. When I started to dig deeper in my study of John
the Baptist the first area of application that the Lord showed me was the correlation of the call on
the life John and the that of rest of Gods children, specifically me. My life verse is Esther 4:14,
“...And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” This has
always been a call for me to look at each moment, each trial, each joy as being part of the reason
I have been created and was chosen to live at this specific time. Johns life was one that was
intended to be lives as a sacrifice for the Lord, a life that at all times pointed to the Messiah and
the gospel. We are all called to live a life that is set apart, that points to the gospel with our every
breath but I believe Johns life was made for something even more spectacular that that. The
angel was very specific when he came to Zechariah and told him that his son would be great
before the Lord, that he would make ready the way of the Lord. John was sent from heaven to
earth at a very specific time for a very specific reason. Although the Lord knew his heart and
what kind of life John would lead, he still had the choice to follow another path. He was not
forced into a life of devotion to the Lord, he chose it. His love for the Lord leads his choices. His
passion for the Messiah and preparing for His coming drove him to share his message with those
around him. He chose the life he lived. The Lord knew his heart well enough to know how he
would live his life, He knew that his love for the Lord would lead to a life sold out to the mission
set before him. He knows that John would die as soon as Jesus started His ministry shortly after
John baptized Him. John was a man who did not fear man, because he feared the Lord and knew
that in his fear of the Lord, he had no need to fear man. I believe that John heard the words “well
done my good and faithful servant” when he saw the face of the Lord for the first time. Johns life
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is a sweet reminder to me that the Lord loves me enough to know my heart and desires fully, and
as a result of that knows the choices I will make and the work I will do for His kingdom. He does
not force a life on my but simple loves me enough to let me choose. If I am living a life that
honors the Lord and follows His call I will living in His will, living the life I was created to. I
was sent to earth when I was for a specific reason, everything that has happened to me is for a
reason. The Lord has not and will not be surprised by my choices because He knows and loves
me fully, knows my heart and the path I will choose. The comfort that comes when I know the
Lord has a plan for my life, a plan that comes from a life where I am fully known and loved by
the Lord, my creator is life changing. We as Christians, have the assurance of a live life with the
knowledge that we have a specific purpose that has been set before us because we are fully
known and loved if we simply follow the Lord and listen to His voice.
Another area of application is the example of faithfulness that John sets. He was a man
who didn’t let anything get in the way of his relationship with the Lord. The way he chose to live
his life was one that wasn’t loaded down with the desires of the world around him. He lives
simply and with a specific purpose. While we are not all called to a life lived in the desert with a
strict diet like that of John, we are called to illuminate those things in our life that get between us
and our relationship with the Lord. When he was in a place of leadership with many followers,
he didn’t ever let them think that he was the one to follow or live a life dedicated to. He pointed
to the Messiah in all things, he was very specific in stating he wasn’t even worth of kissing Jesus
sandals. He wasn’t after a life of fame in glory. His desire was to make much of Jesus and see
others live a life of repentance and dedication to the Lord. While in some ways he might be an
extreme example, John the Baptist is someone we should look to see a life lived for the Lord. We
are all called to make much of Jesus and do all things to show others Jesus. Some days that is the
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hardest calling imaginable, others it is a sweet and easy path to take. John shows us how to walk
through both days with grace. He is not mentioned in all four gospels for not. He is a significant
character in the Bible that we are to look to and learn from in many ways.
Conclusion
When we look at the life of someone as great as John the Baptist there is much to learn.
In His Biography on John Robert Alan King states it beautifully,
When we examine John the Baptist as a person, we find a man filled with the Holy Spirit
even before birth. He leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the presence of the Messiah
forming within Mary. His whole life was one of joy over Jesus and a dedication to his
mission of serving God and pointing people to Christ. 9
Alan speaks of a man who loved what he was called to. A man whose greatest joy in life
was to make much of Jesus and point others to Him. He wasn’t a perfect man, but he was a man
who lives faithfully. My hope is that by the end of this paper you are able to see the good and
bad in John’s life and see him for the man that he was. In our research we were able to look at
the life, death, ministry and eternal impact John the Baptist and see a man after God’s own heart.
Bibliography
Carroll, John T.. Luke (2012). Louisville: Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2012. Accessed
December 8, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central.
King, Robert Alan.CA Biography of John the Baptist: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness.
King and Associates, 2012.
9 Robert Alan King.CA Biography of John the Baptist: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness, 271.
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Kodell, Jerome.CJohn the Baptist: Forerunner. Little Rock, AR: Little Rock Scripture Study,
2017.
Martínez, Roberto.CThe Question of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Indictment of the Religious
Leaders: A Critical Analysis of Luke 7:18-35. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co, 2011.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cgf9dm.
Meyer, F. B.CJohn the Baptist. Brazil: Editora Griffo, 2015.
St. Hilary Of Poitiers, and D.H. Williams.CCommentary on Matthew. Washington, D.C.: Catholic
University of America Press, 2012. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fgnv8.
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