John, son of the righteous Zacharias and Elizabeth, lived
from his youth in the wilderness and spent there his time in fasting and
prayer. His clothing was made of camel’s hair, and about loins he wore a
leather girdle, and his food was locusts (a wild plant, not insects) and wild
honey.
When John reached thirty years of age, the Lord
directed him to go to the valley of the Jordan River
and proclaim to all the people that the Saviour of the world would soon appear,
and that all should prepare to meet Him with repentance and baptism.
John went to the region of the Jordan and started to preach, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand," —
that is, the time was drawing near when the long awaited Saviour would appear, Who would summon everyone to His kingdom.
For a long time God had not sent a prophet to the
Hebrew people. From the time of the last prophet, Malachi, there had passed
four hundred years. Therefore, when they heard of the appearance of the Prophet
John and about his marvellous life and teaching, people came from all
directions to hear him. Whoever believed his words and repented of their sins,
John baptized in the river Jordan, that is, he immersed each one in
the water while placing his hands on the head of the baptized. Therefore, John
the Forerunner was called the Baptist. In the process, John required of
everyone that the repentance be sincere and the correction in oneself be
accompanied by good works.
The baptism of John meant that as the body is
washed and cleansed by water, thus, the soul of a person who repents and
believes in the Saviour is cleansed by Christ of all his sins when he is
baptized into the Church.
Among those who came to John were some people who
considered themselves righteous, did not wish to repent, and, indeed, were
vicious and evil as, for example, were the Pharisees and Sadducees — leaders of
the Hebrew people. The Pharisees were proud of their descent from
Abraham, praised themselves for fulfilling the Law, and considered themselves
worthy to enter the Kingdom of Christ the Messiah. The Sadducees did not believe in the
resurrection of the dead and in the future life. To these people John said,
"Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" — that
is, who told you that you by your own power could escape the anger of God and
eternal punishment in the future life? "Bring forth fruits worthy for
repentance. And think not to say within yourselves: we have Abraham as our
father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Remember, every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire."
Hearing these words, the people asked him,
"What shall we do then?"
John answered, "He that has two coats, let
him impart to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do
likewise," — that is, first of all, do good.
Then, publicans, or tax collectors, came and
asked, "Master, what shall we do?" The publicans collected taxes for
the Romans. The Jews hated the power of the Romans. Besides that, several of
the publicans collected more than was proper and oppressed the people. The Jews
despised all the publicans and considered them unworthy to enter the
approaching Kingdom of Christ. John said to them, "Exact no more than that, which
is appointed you."
The soldiers also asked of him, "What shall
we do?" It often happened that the soldiers, dissatisfied with their
wages, took property that belonged to other people, treated poor people badly,
and accused other people for their own profit. John said to them, "Do
violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be
content with your wages."
Many then wondered if John was Christ the Saviour,
but John explained that he was not the Christ. "I baptize you with water,"
he said, "but after me One mightier than I is coming," — that
is, soon after me will come He for whom you wait — Christ, "the latchet
of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose;" — that is, I am unworthy
to even be His servant to take off His shoes for Him. "He shall baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;" — that is, the baptism which
He will give will burn up your sins like fire and give you the gifts of the
Holy Spirit.
The holy Prophet John preached to
many others, teaching the people who came to him.
Note: See
the Gospels of Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-18; Luke 3:1-18; John 1:15-28.
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