THE MAN JOHN THE BAPTIST

Two thousand years ago, there was in Israel a great hope for the imminent coming of the Messiah. This, in their misconception, would be a mighty king of David's lineage, who would expel the Romans and restore the glory of Israel among the nations (Acts 1: 6). That was when John the Baptist appeared, a man of strong personality and with a hard preaching to whom multitudes were directed. The text says: " The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah." (Luke 3: 7-15).

This feeling was so intense that it led the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of Israel, to send a delegation of Levites and priests to examine the prophet's performance and see if he really was the awaited Messiah (John 1:19-28). But John the Baptist promptly replied, "I am not the Christ" (John 1:20). This word "Christ" is the English translation of the Greek Χριστός (Christos), which in Hebrew is מְשִׁיחִֽ (Mashía), which translates directly into English is "Messiah" and means "Anointed."

John the Baptist was a novelty in Israel at that time. His simple way of dressing and living contrasted with the exquisite style of the religious of that time (Matthew 3: 4). He lived what he preached and it gave him so much authority that even Pharisees and Sadducees, members of the religious elite, went to him to be baptized (Matthew 3: 7). Although He did not need it, since John's baptism was for repentance, the Lord Jesus himself went to him to be baptized, such as the respect he had for the prophet. Jesus came in the line of baptism for sympathizing with sinners, in a gesture of identification with their suffering (Matthew 3:13).

He was not a man at all, so much so that when Jesus spoke about him, He said: " Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; [...]" (Matthew 11.11). He was the last prophet of the old covenant (Mt 11.13). He reprimanded the religious authorities, calling them "the race of vipers" and saying that they had to repent (Mt 3: 7,8). He denounced, publicly condemning, the sin of King Herod who separated from his wife to marry his brother's wife (Luke 3:19). This act would lead him to prison and then death.

Prisoner, confused, suffering the tensions typical of a legitimate Jewish prophet, and knowing that his death was approaching, sent to his "disciples to ask Jesus: are you the one who is to come or should we expect some other? Jesus answered, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. [...]" (Matthew 11: 4-5). Now John the Baptist could follow the path of his calling. He was beheaded and his head exposed on a tray at King Herod's birthday (Matthew 14).

The life of John the Baptist is an example for anyone who is willing to be a witness of Christ in the world. For the Christian's struggle "is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil ..." (Ephesians 6:12). However, the Apostle Paul said: " For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." (Philippians 1:29,30).

Antônio Maia – M.Div.

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