John the Baptist

Definition and Meaning

John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet active shortly before Jesus Christ began his public ministry. He is called "the Baptist" because he baptized people with water (see baptism). He should not be confused with the apostle John, one of the Twelve.

Biblical and Historical Background

According to Luke 1, he was the son of Zacharias, a priest, and Elisabeth. Elisabeth is described as a relative of Mary. The Gospels present him as "the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness" spoken of in Isaiah 40:3, and they also identify him with the Elijah whose coming Malachi foretold (Matthew 11:14).

Clothed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey, he preached repentance (turning away from sin) in the wilderness of Judea (Matthew 3:4). He baptized crowds in the Jordan River, and Jesus himself was baptized by him (Matthew 3:13-17). The Gospel of John reports that he pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

When Herod Antipas married Herodias, his brother's wife, John denounced the marriage. For this he was imprisoned and later beheaded (Mark 6:17-29). The first-century Jewish historian Josephus also records his ministry and execution in his Antiquities of the Jews.

Practice in Korean Churches

• Names: The Korean Revised Version (New Edition) renders his name "Serye Yohan" (John the Baptist), while the New Korean Standard Version and the Common Translation Bible use "Seryeja Yohan" (John the Baptizer). Baptist churches, which emphasize full immersion in water, commonly use the form "Chimnye Yohan" (John the Immerser). This difference reflects differing understandings of baptism and immersion.
• Preaching and the church calendar: During Advent, the season of awaiting Christ's coming, his cry "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" is frequently used as a sermon text. In preaching on repentance and humility, his words "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30) are often quoted.
• Feast days: The liturgical calendars of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Korea include the Nativity of John the Baptist on June 24. Most Protestant denominations do not observe a separate commemoration for him.