Who Was John the Baptist in the Bible? The Forerunner of Jesus

John the Baptist was a prophet sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus. He was born to the elderly priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, preached repentance in the wilderness of Judea, and baptized people in the Jordan River, including Jesus Himself (Luke 1:13; Matthew 3:1-17). He pointed his own followers to Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Herod Antipas imprisoned him and later had him beheaded (Mark 6:17-29).

Jesus said that no one born of women was greater than John (Matthew 11:11). He is not the same person as John the apostle, the son of Zebedee, who wrote the Gospel of John.

Quick Facts About John the Baptist

Fact	Details
Name meaning	John (Hebrew Yohanan) is often understood as "the LORD is gracious"
Testament	New Testament (foretold in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1; 4:5)
Key books	Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; Acts 19:1-7
Time period	Born a few months before Jesus, about 6-5 BC; ministry began about AD 28-29 (Luke 3:1-2)
Family	Son of Zechariah the priest and Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron; relative of Mary (Luke 1:5, 1:36)
Known for	Preaching repentance, baptizing in the Jordan, baptizing Jesus, and being beheaded by Herod

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A Promised Birth

Zechariah was a priest in the division of Abijah, and his wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Both were righteous, but they had no children, and both were old (Luke 1:5-7).

While Zechariah was serving in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that Elizabeth would bear a son, to be named John. The child was never to drink wine or other fermented drink, would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth, and would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:13-17). Because Zechariah doubted, he was unable to speak until the promise was fulfilled (Luke 1:18-20).

In Elizabeth's sixth month, Gabriel was sent to Mary and told her that her relative Elizabeth was expecting a child (Luke 1:26, 1:36). When Mary visited, the baby leaped in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 1:41-44). The Bible calls Elizabeth Mary's relative. The common description of John as Jesus' cousin comes from this verse, but the exact relationship is not stated.

At John's circumcision, relatives wanted to name him after his father. Elizabeth said his name was John, and Zechariah confirmed the name by writing it on a tablet. Immediately he could speak again, and he praised God (Luke 1:59-64). Luke is the only Gospel writer to record John's birth, and it is told alongside the Christmas account of Jesus' birth. The child grew and lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel (Luke 1:80).

Who Was John the Baptist in the Bible? The Voice in the Wilderness

Luke dates the start of John's ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate governed Judea and Herod ruled Galilee. The word of God came to John in the wilderness (Luke 3:1-2).

John appeared in the wilderness of Judea with a short message:

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:2)

Matthew and the other Gospel writers identify him as the one Isaiah foretold, a voice calling in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3). Mark also connects him with the messenger promised in Malachi 3:1 (Mark 1:2).

John wore clothing made of camel's hair with a leather belt, and he ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). People came from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the region of the Jordan, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:5-6).

What John Preached

John told the crowds not to rely on descent from Abraham but to produce fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8). When people asked what to do, he gave practical answers:

• Anyone with two shirts should share with someone who had none, and anyone with food should do the same (Luke 3:10-11).
• Tax collectors should collect no more than required (Luke 3:12-13).
• Soldiers should not extort money or accuse people falsely, and should be content with their pay (Luke 3:14).

John also said that one more powerful than he was coming, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry. He baptized with water, but the coming one would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).

The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John tried to stop Him, saying he needed to be baptized by Jesus. Jesus answered that it was proper to do this to fulfill all righteousness, and John agreed (Matthew 3:13-15).

As Jesus came up out of the water, heaven opened, the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared that Jesus was His beloved Son, with whom He was well pleased (Matthew 3:16-17).

Pointing Others to Jesus

When priests and Levites from Jerusalem asked John who he was, he said plainly that he was not the Messiah, not Elijah, and not the Prophet (John 1:19-21). He described himself in the words of Isaiah as a voice calling in the wilderness (John 1:23).

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said:

"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

Two of John's disciples heard him repeat this and followed Jesus. One of them was Andrew, who then brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus (John 1:35-42).

Later, when John's disciples were concerned that more people were going to Jesus, John said he was like the friend of the bridegroom, full of joy at hearing the bridegroom's voice (John 3:26-29). Then he added:

"He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30)

Was John the Baptist Elijah?

The prophet Malachi foretold that God would send the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Malachi 4:5). Jesus said that John was the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14; 17:11-13).

John himself denied being Elijah (John 1:21). The two statements fit together through Gabriel's words: John was not Elijah in person, but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).

Prison and Death

John rebuked Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife, and for other evil things he had done. Herod locked John in prison (Luke 3:19-20; Mark 6:17-18).

From prison, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was the one who was to come. Jesus told them to report what they had seen: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor (Matthew 11:2-5). Jesus then told the crowd that John was more than a prophet:

"Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11)

Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted him dead, but Herod feared John, knowing he was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:19-20). At Herod's birthday banquet, the daughter of Herodias danced and pleased him, and he promised her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod was distressed but sent an executioner, who beheaded John in the prison (Mark 6:17-29). John's disciples took his body and laid it in a tomb (Mark 6:29).

The first-century Jewish historian Josephus also wrote about John. He called him a good man who urged the Jews to practice righteousness and come to baptism, and he says John was put to death at the fortress of Machaerus (Antiquities 18.5.2). This detail comes from Josephus, not from Scripture.

John's Influence After His Death

When Herod heard about Jesus' miracles, he said that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead (Matthew 14:1-2). Years later, the apostle Paul met about twelve disciples in Ephesus who had received only John's baptism. Paul explained that John told the people to believe in the one coming after him, and they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-7).

Key Lessons From John the Baptist

• A messenger points away from himself. John denied being the Messiah and directed his own disciples to Jesus (John 1:20, 1:35-37; 3:30).
• Repentance shows in conduct. John told people to share, to deal honestly, and to stop extortion (Luke 3:10-14).
• Faithfulness can cost a great deal. John spoke against a ruler's sin and was imprisoned and killed for it (Mark 6:18, 6:27).
• Honest questions can be brought to Jesus. In prison John sent his question to Jesus, and Jesus answered with evidence (Matthew 11:2-5).

Where John the Baptist Appears in the Bible

• Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5: Prophecies applied to John
• Matthew 3; 11:2-19; 14:1-12; 17:10-13: Ministry, question from prison, and death
• Mark 1:1-11; 6:14-29: Ministry, baptism of Jesus, and death
• Luke 1; 3:1-22; 7:18-35: Birth, preaching, and Jesus' testimony about him
• John 1:6-8, 1:19-37; 3:22-30: Witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God
• Acts 1:22; 13:24-25; 19:1-7: His baptism and message recalled by the apostles

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was John the Baptist in the Bible?

John the Baptist was a prophet, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who preached repentance and baptized people in the Jordan River (Luke 1:13; Matthew 3:1-6). He prepared the way for Jesus, baptized Him, and called Him the Lamb of God (Matthew 3:13-17; John 1:29).

Were John the Baptist and Jesus related?

Yes. Luke 1:36 calls Elizabeth, John's mother, a relative of Mary. The exact relationship is not stated, so the common description of them as cousins is a reasonable inference rather than a direct statement of Scripture.

Why did John the Baptist eat locusts and honey?

Matthew 3:4 records his diet and his camel's hair clothing without explaining them. His clothing resembles that of Elijah, who also wore a leather belt (2 Kings 1:8).

How did John the Baptist die?

Herod Antipas had John beheaded in prison after the daughter of Herodias asked for his head at Herod's birthday banquet (Mark 6:21-28). John had condemned Herod's marriage to Herodias (Mark 6:17-18).

Is John the Baptist the same as John the apostle?

No. John the Baptist was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:13). John the apostle was the son of Zebedee and one of the twelve disciples (Matthew 4:21; 10:2).