Prophets of Advent: John the Baptizer

When most Christians think about Advent, the figure of St. John the Baptist comes to mind.  It is John who "prepares the way for the Lord."  What do we know about him?

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who had him in their old age.  Luke's gospel says that Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were "kinswomen," that is, had some kind of family relationship.  As an adult John lived in the desert in the manner of ancient prophets.  He denounced sin, called his fellow Jews to repentance by baptism with water, and announced the coming of the Messiah as judge, who will "baptize with fire."  He denies that he is the Messiah, and point the way to Jesus as one for whom "I am not worthy to carry his sandals."  He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, and called him "the lamb of God."

Later John was imprisoned by King Herod for publicly rebuking him over his incestuous marriage.  John was beheaded as a result of a foolish pledge made by Herod at a banquet when he was half-drunk.  The New Testament presents John the Baptist as the last of the prophets, the precursor of the Messiah.  Jesus called John a prophet, and the greatest of those born of women.

The public ministries of John and Jesus overlapped.  Some scholars theorize that for a short time Jesus was a listener to the message of John in the desert, and one of his followers.  Then after his baptism by John, and John's arrest and imprisonment, Jesus set out on his own ministry to accomplish his Father's will.  Jesus gathered his own disciples around him, some of whom came over from the Baptist.  In Matthew's gospel Jesus calls attention to the contrast between the austere life of John and his own ordinary manner of life, "eating and drinking."

What does John the Baptist tell us about Advent?  John points to Jesus as the Messiah, the chosen one of the Father.  At John's baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, the spirit of God descended on Jesus.  A voice was heard from the heavens, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."  In Advent, we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Messiah.  We prepare by affirming who Jesus is, and by recommitting to follow Jesus, on December 25 and every day thereafter.

And not just any Jesus.  To John the Baptist and to us, Jesus is not just another fine, imaginative teacher or charismatic miracle worker.  He is the son of God and our savior.  He is the promised One of the Father.  He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.  He embraces his humanity, even to the point of death.  Jesus is poor and humble, and calls his followers (like John the Baptist) to similar poverty of spirit and humility in action.

The Advent song says it well:  

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh
Awake and hearken for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of Kings.