John was the son told of by the angel to the priest Zacharias, and said he should be “a prophet ... [to] go before ... the Lord and to prepare His ways.” But John did not teach the people in the Temple, or serve in its duties as his father, which was the usual work for priests’ sons.
The high priest at that time, and others of the temple, were unfaithful to God and He could not bless them. John did not receive his teaching from them; no doubt his parents, who believed God’s words, taught him, and perhaps others, but he is spoken of, when young, as in the deserts. So no doubt he was alone a lot where he learned from God what to tell the people (Luke 1:8080And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel. (Luke 1:80)).
John’s Public Service
John knew the time to begin telling the people to prepare: “The word of the Lord came unto [him] in the wilderness.” He went to the country about the Jordan River. There were towns and people there and John taught them outdoors away from Jerusalem and the temple.
How were the people to prepare for the Lord? by decorating their buildings, streets, and garments? No. He told them only one way, to repent of their sins, to confess them to God, and turn away from them.
People came from all parts of the land as they heard of John’s preaching, and he spoke so plainly and earnestly that many were truly sorry for their sins, and as a sign of this were baptized by John in the water of Jordan.
The word “baptize” teaches of death. The Jordan reminded especially of death, because it flows steadily downward from high mountains into the Dead Sea, in whose heavy salt water no plant or fish can live.
Some of the people thought John might be the promised Christ. But John told them the One to come was far mightier than he. We would call John a good man and faithful to God, yet he said he was not worthy to loosen the shoes of that One to come.
The Baptism of Jesus
One day Jesus came to be baptized. John knew that Jesus was from God. He, in grace, would take His place with repentant Israel, looking forward to the millennial kingdom. John would know the words of the angels, about the Saviour, and knew His perfect life, so he said to Him, “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?”
But Jesus said it should be done, although He had no sin to confess, or to deserve death.
Sometime after this, John was kept from preaching to the people because he had reproved the ruler of Galilee for evil things. He is mentioned again later. He had fulfilled the words that he would turn many to God and many of those followed Jesus.
Further Meditation
1. Who is the only person baptized by John whose name is given in the Bible?
2. There are several different baptisms given in Scripture. What are they? What is at least one reason why the Bible uses being immersed in water as the method for Christian baptism?
3. If you would like to read more about baptism you can search for it at BibleTruthLibrary.org.