John the Forerunner

THROUGH Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, the Lord declared, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.” (Mal. 3:1) This prophecy is quoted in Mark 1:2 and applied to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. In Mark 1:3, John is identified as the one fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, which speaks of “the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” In John 1:28, the Apostle John applies this latter prophecy to John the Baptist.

The Lord’s statement, “Behold, I will send my messenger,” is significant, for John’s birth was a direct result of the overruling providences of God. The account of this is found in Luke 1:5-25. The circumstances parallel to some extent the experience of Abraham and Sarah in connection with the birth of Isaac, in that Zacharias and Elizabeth, who became the parents of John, “both were now well stricken in years,” and Elizabeth was “barren.”

The miracles associated with the birth of John convinced Zacharias, his father, a priest in Israel, that momentous things in the plan of God were happening. This conclusion was confirmed when his wife’s cousin, Mary, visited them and they learned of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to her that she was to be the mother of Jesus, who would be the promised King to sit on “the throne of his father David.” (Luke 1:32) Zacharias said concerning his son:

“Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”—vss. 76-79

The only information the Bible furnishes concerning John from the time he was a baby until he began his ministry is contained in Luke 1:80. This text reads, “The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.” It is safe to assume that during his maturing years in the desert he prepared himself for his coming ministry by self-discipline and communion with God. Desert life itself would call for courage and strength of character.

Matthew 3:1 reads, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.” Verse 5 says that “then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.” This indicates that John did not go from place to place in the conduct of his ministry but that the people went to him. When they did, they found a man with “raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”—vs. 4

Jesus made a revealing observation concerning John’s desert ministry and his clothing. After John’s disciples departed, “Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet, for this is he, of whom it is written, Behold I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.”—Matt. 11:7-10

The miraculous circumstances associated with the birth of this “more than a prophet,” his manner of life, and the general expectation that some great one was about to appear caused many to be attracted to him. (Matt. 3:5) He called upon his hearers to repent, and those who did he immersed in water, as a symbol of their cleansing from sin.

John was outspoken in his ministry. Taking note of the Pharisees and Sadducees in his audience, he said to them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Then he told them the only way they could escape from this wrath, saying, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”—Matt. 3:7,8

The “wrath to come” mentioned by John was not eternal torture in a fiery hell but the baptism of fire which was to come upon the nation of Israel because of the national rejection of their Messiah. This wrath fell upon the nation in A.D. 70-73, when Jerusalem was destroyed and the people scattered. Continuing his symbolic prophecy concerning the destruction of the nation, John said, “The axe is laid unto the root of the trees.”—vs. 10

Who Was John the Baptist?

“The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem” to ask John, “Who art thou?” (John 1:19) He made it clear to these investigators that he was “not the Christ.” (vs. 20) Then they asked, “What then? Art thou Elias?” Again his answer was, “I am not.” Their final question was, “Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.”—vs. 21

The question asked John, “Art thou Elias?” was based on the prophecy of Malachi 4:5,6, which reads, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” This prophecy describes a work of reformation such as John was conducting in Israel, and it was natural that he should be asked whether or not he considered himself to be this foretold Elijah.

Those who believe the false theory of reincarnation seize upon this prophecy to indicate that the Bible supports their theory, claiming that it suggests the return of the Prophet Elijah as another personality. But this is not the correct thought. The Prophet Elijah was a great reformer in Israel, and because of this his name is used in the prophecy to indicate the nature of the work to be attempted by the one which it foretells.

John denied that he was the foretold Elijah, yet Jesus said to his disciples referring to John, that “Elias is indeed come.” (Mark 9:13) This does not contradict John’s statement concerning the matter. The more complete viewpoint is expressed to his disciples in Matthew 11:14, where Jesus is quoted as saying to his disciples, “If ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” This means that to those who repented under the ministry of John and were prepared to accept Jesus, he was the promised Elijah, for he had accomplished the foretold work of reformation in their hearts and lives.

The prophecy of the coming Elijah suggests an alternative fulfillment—“Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In other words, if the attempted work of reformation failed, the foretold “curse” would come upon the nation of Israel. This curse was in reality what John referred to as “the wrath to come.” (Matt. 3:7,8) John also described it as “a baptism of fire,” which, as we have noted, came upon the Jewish nation in A.D. 70-73. While a few were converted and prepared to accept Jesus by the ministry of John, the nation as a whole was not; so the foretold curse fell, destroying the nation and scattering the people throughout the earth.

Since John himself denied that he was actually the foretold Elijah, we are warranted in looking for a larger fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy. We believe that that larger fulfillment began with Jesus and was continued by his true followers throughout the entire age. Just as John preached repentance, so also did Jesus. Matthew 4:17 reads, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

When Jesus sent his disciples into the ministry, we read that they “went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12) Speaking on Mars’ Hill, Paul said that “now” God “commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) In proclaiming the message of repentance, Jesus and his true followers have continued the Elijah work throughout the entire age.

But a general failure also accompanies the effort in this larger application of the prophecy. A few have repented, even as did a handful under the preaching of John; but the world as a whole has continued on in its sinful, selfish ways. So, again, the alternative fulfillment of the prophecy must come, not upon one nation this time, but upon all nations. This foretold curse is, as a matter of fact, already upon the world in the form of “a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”—Dan. 12:1

But this does not mean that the foretold Elijah work of repentance and reformation will never be accomplished. It will be accomplished during the time of Christ’s kingdom. Under the typical Elijah, the people of Israel were led to repentance and to a return to the worship of Jehovah, the true and living God. And so it will be under the administration of Christ’s kingdom. A “pure language,” or message, will be turned to the people; the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth, and as a result of that enlightenment, the people will “call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”—Zeph. 3:8,9; Isa. 11:9

“That Prophet”

The priests and Levites who were sent to interview John inquired of him if he were “that Prophet.” (John 1:21) Again John replied that he was not. This question evidently related to a prophecy of Moses in which he said, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.”—Deut. 18:15

The Apostle Peter quoted this prophecy and applied it to the kingdom work of Christ to be accomplished during the “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-23) John knew that he was not this great Prophet that Moses had promised, and in response to the question, “What sayest thou of thyself?” he replied, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.”—John 1:22,23

John had a humble opinion of himself and of his place in the divine plan. Asked why he baptized, since he was “not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet,” he replied: “I baptize with water: but there standeth One among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”—John 1:25-27

We read that “the next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (vs. 29) John explained further that the One who had instructed him to baptize with water—which, of course, was God—had told him, “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit.”

John did not understand the full implications of this, but he did take it to mean that the One upon whom he saw the Spirit descend would be the promised Messiah, and “the Son of God.” (vss. 33,34) Later there arose a discussion between some of John’s disciples and the Jews: “And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to Him.”—John 3:26

This was more a statement than a question—a statement implying that Jesus was attracting more followers than John. John was quick to catch the implication and replied: “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”—John 3:27-30

If those questioning John thought that he would be disturbed or discouraged over the fact that Jesus was securing a larger following than he, they were wrong; for John was willing, and glad, to have it this way. It was just what he expected, for, as he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He knew that having announced the presence of the Messiah, his own mission was now practically fulfilled. Since the One for whom he had been commissioned to prepare the way had come, the work of preparation was over.

We are not to suppose that John understood clearly all the details of the divine plan. Doubtless much that he said was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This might well be true with respect to his observation concerning the Bridegroom and the bride. In Revelation 19:7 reference is made to the marriage of the “Lamb,” whom John referred to as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Under this symbolism Jesus would be the Bridegroom, and his “wife” would be the bride. This bride class is composed of his faithful followers, beginning with the apostles, who at Pentecost received from Jesus the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

John did not live until Pentecost so did not have an opportunity of becoming a part of the bride class. Thus, all he claimed was the great joy of being the “friend” of the Bridegroom, the one who had heard his voice. “This my joy,” he said, “is fulfilled.” John was content with this happy part in the divine arrangement. He did not complain because he could not be a part of the bride class.

Jesus, of course, also recognized that John would not be one of the called-out ones of the Gospel Age, who, if faithful, would live and reign with him in the heavenly phase of the kingdom. Jesus said, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11) Jesus explained the reason for this. He said that “all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” (Matt. 11:13) John was the last of the prophets. Commencing with Jesus a new age in the plan of God began, the age during which the kingdom of heaven class, the “bride” of the Lamb, has been called from the world through the Gospel and made ready to live and reign with Christ a thousand years.

John’s Faith Tested

John, in his righteousness, reproved “Herod the tetrarch” for marrying his brother Philip’s wife, and because of this he was cast into prison. (John 3:19,20) This was a severe test of his faith; for, having announced Jesus as the promised Messiah, he doubtless believed, even as Jesus’ disciples later supposed, that the kingdom of Christ would “immediately appear.” (Luke 19:11) This being his expectation, he naturally would wonder why he should find himself in prison when he was dedicated to be one of the faithful subjects of the new kingdom, a “friend” indeed, of the King.

It would seem that he had begun to wonder if Jesus was the promised Messiah. However, as he remained in prison, word reached him that the “works of Christ” were continuing; so he send messengers to inquire of Jesus, “Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?”—Matt. 11:2,3

Jesus’ reply to this inquiry was direct and to the point. He said: “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”—Matt. 11:4-6

The Scriptures do not inform us as to whether or not this reply gave John the reassurance which he sought. Probably it did, for he would know that these miraculous works were to be expected of the Messiah. He could not know that the real age of worldwide miracles was nearly two thousand years in the future. Jesus was then performing miracles, even raising the dead, and for all John knew this work would continue and increase. Had he not said that Jesus would increase?

True, John was without an explanation as to why the miracle-working Christ allowed him to remain in prison. But Jesus had said in his reply, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” This suggested the possibility of a test, and probably John determined that he would not be offended even if Jesus did not come to his aid.

Like all the others in the Ancient Worthy class, John “died in faith, not having received the promises.” (Heb. 11:13) It was on Herod’s birthday. The daughter of Herodias danced before him, and he was so pleased with her that he promised to give her anything she asked. The mother had instructed her daughter to request the head of John the Baptist. This she did. “The king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.”—Matt. 14:1-12

This seemed like an inglorious end to a faithful career of service in the Lord’s cause, but it was not really so. John had been loyal to God and to the divine principles of righteousness. Being put to death as he was gave him a further opportunity to prove his faithfulness. When, in that “better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35) promised for all the Ancient Worthies, he is brought forth to be one of the “princes in all the earth,” (Ps. 45:16) he will rejoice and will continue his faithful service, not as the forerunner of Christ, but as one of the human representatives of the Kingdom.

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