Saint John the Baptist

“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

Mosaic Icon of St. John the Baptist at St. Mary & St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church

The Story In A Minute

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St. John's Birth

His parents Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and they were both of old age. They asked God often to grant them offspring. So it was, while Zacharias was serving as a priest before God in the order of his division, Gabriel the angel of the Lord appeared and announced to Zacharias the birth of a son. Shortly after, Elizabeth conceived. Gabriel appeared again, but this time to Mary; he revealed to her that her cousin Elizabeth conceived, along with the fact that she will soon be carrying Jesus. Mary arose and went in haste to congratulate and serve Elizabeth. When Mary entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth, Now when Elizabeth’s full time came to deliver the baby, she brought forth a son and named him John as he was called by the angel.

"And it happened when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:41).

Now when Elizabeth’s full time came to deliver the baby, she brought forth a son and named him John as he was called by the angel.

Life and Ministry

When John was two years old, King Herod (king of Judea) sent out an order to kill all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Mathew 2:16-18). Zacharias took the child and brought him to the sanctuary, laid him on the altar and told the soldiers, 'I have received him from this place'. The angel of the Lord caught up the child and brought him to the desert of Ziphana. The soldiers became enraged and they killed his father Zacharias. John grew and became strong in spirit. He was in the desert, lived an angelic life, till the day of his manifestation to Israel (Luke 1:80).

“Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4)

He lived in the wilderness spending time in prayer and asceticism, until the Lord ordered him to preach to the people about the coming of the Savior of the World. He went to all the regions around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.' ” (Isaiah 40:3)

Baptizing the Lord Jesus

"In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' " (Matthew 3:1-2).

"Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matthew 3:5-6).

While the people were waiting, questioning in their hearts if John is the Christ, John answered them saying:

"I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire" (Luke 3:16-17)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to decline saying: "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him: "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." John accepted and carried out Jesus’ request. When Jesus had been baptized, immediately He came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove upon Him. Suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:13-17 and Luke 3:21-22).

His Martyrdom

St. John rebuked King Herod because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Phillip whom he had taken as a wife, while her husband was still alive. He said to him:

“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18).

Therefore, Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. Then an opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, threw a feast for his nobles, the high officers and chief men of Galilee. Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced and pleased Herod and those who sat with him. So the king said to the girl: ‘Ask me whatever you want, and I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.’ The girl went out and spoke to her mother and asked her: 'What shall I ask?' Her mother replied: ‘The head of John the Baptist on a platter'. When the king heard the request, he was exceedingly sorry, but because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately he sent out an executioner and commanded John’s head to be brought to him. St. John was beheaded in prison, and indeed his head was brought on a platter, and presented to the girl. She gave it to her mother (Mark 6:19-28).

His Feasts

The church celebrates his nativity on July 7th - the 30th day of the Coptic month of Paone and the commemoration of his martyrdom on September 12th - the 2nd day of the Coptic month of Tout.

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References

Synaxarium - Coptic Reader App

John the Baptist - CopticChurch. Net