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Call him John the Baptizer and you probably won't have quite as many questions about him! I once heard someone--who hadn't read the Gospel as carefully as you have--trace the beginnings of the Baptist Church to St. John!
Here's the scoop: John (who is a cousin of Jesus, the son of Elizabeth and Zachary (see the Gospel of Luke) has the job of "preparing the way of the Lord." John was baptizing people with what was described as a baptism of repentance. Jesus, we know, had no need to repent, but asked humbly to be baptized by John so that he was once again "one with us," the one who would suffer and die for us. Jesus himself does not begin his public ministry until John is killed (beheaded) by Herod (for that story, you need to read Matthew 14: 3-12). John's principal role, according to the Gospels, is to point to Jesus. That's your role, too, Christine! And mine as well. May we remember that when it's hard--like it was for John the Baptizer. |