#14.1 Jesus and John the Baptist
John
was of the lineage of Aaron, who held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood.
Worthy male descendants down to the time of John the Baptist (JB) had that
Priesthood conferred on them. Thus as a descendent of Aaron he held those keys
and was authorized to function in the ordinances and duties of temple service.
Both his mother Elizabeth and father Zacharias were descendants of Aaron.
JB
was the last legal administrator, holding the priesthood keys and authority
under the Mosaic dispensation. He was charged with several responsibilities:
1.
He
came in the spirit of an Elias to prepare the way for Jesus to come to the
earth to fulfill His mission, including the Atonement. An Elias is one called
to prepare the way for a greater revelation from God. Jewish prophets had
foretold of an Elias (Elijah) that would precede the coming of the Lord “in the
spirit of Elias.” (Luke 1:17)
2.
JB
was given the privilege to baptize the Redeemer, and would witness the Holy
Ghost descend in the form of a dove attesting to the truth of the event.
3.
He
was the only legal administrator on the earth in God's kingdom, holding the
priesthood keys and power, and sanctioned by God the Father. His was the
beginning of the dispensation of the Meridian of time. His authority came from
God. JB would be the last legal administrator of the old Mosaic law and the
first of the new. With him ended the old law and with him began the new era of promise
… the past died and the future was born.
At
this time the Jewish nation was under the oppressive rule of Rome. They had
come to believe that heavenly visions and prophets were a thing of the past and
no longer existed in Israel. They were well aware of the ancient prophecies of
a Messiah to come and release them from bondage, and save them. Of course they
were most anxious for this to happen and prayed and constantly looked for the
Deliverer to come.
Zacharia,
his father, was officiation in the temple one day when an angel (Gabriel)
appeared to him. The angel told Zacharia his wife, who was barren of children
to this time and well advanced in years, would bear a son who would be the
prophesied forerunner to prepare the Jews to receive the Messiah who would soon
come to earth. (Luke 1) The angel said the child must be named John; he would
be a blessing to the people, great in the sight of the Lord; he was to drink
neither wine nor strong drink; would be filled with the Holy Ghost and bring
many souls to God. John would bring the
first converts into the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
The
Holy Ghost fell upon John before he was born, while still in his mother's womb
… a miracle that was apparently part of our Father's plan and preparation for
Johns calling. He was ordained by the angel of God when he was eight days old
with the power to overthrow the kingdom of the Jew's and prepare them to
receive the Lord “in whose hands is given all power.” The gospel writer Mark
tells us that Jesus' coming was “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God” coming again to the earth.
Zacharia
and Elizabeth were devout Jews. They observed the Mosaic laws and commandments
and John was so raised. John was about 6 months old when Herod's edict went out
to destroy all male children born back to the time of Jesus' birth. His mother
took the baby John into the mountains to save him. John did not thus spend his
youth in the synagogues and temple courts, but in the desert wilderness where
he was prepared by the Lord for his mission. The word of God came to John in
the wilderness.
We
know that John was baptized at eight years of age. John “waxed strong in spirit”
and became a tower of strength. At age 30 he began his mission of calling the
people to repentance, preaching the gospel, and telling them to prepare for the
Lord's coming which was imminent.
Because
of the unusual circumstances of John's birth, the event would be well known
throughout Judea:
1.
The
annunciation by the angel Gabriel to Zacharias in the temple.
2.
The
crowds that recognized Zacharias had seen a vision while therein.
3.
Zacharias
being struck dumb but still able to communicate to them what had happened.
4.
His
parents being years past time for having children and John being their firstborn.
5.
Zacharias
regaining his speech when John is born and given the name John.
Herod
knew of John's birth around the time of Jesus' birth and wanted the child
killed. When Zacharias refused to tell where the child was Herod had him slain.
Later Herod also had John killed.
Glenn R. McGettigan
