Obituary of a Cousin
October 1st 2008 01:34
By ROI ALLEN, Staff writer
Jerusalem-- Juan Bautista, known in English as John the Baptist, died today at the age of only thirty-two years. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth, his father, Zacharias and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Born in the hill country in a city of Juda, John was not a typical child. He eschewed the higher standard of living of most of his neighbors and childhood friends. He became a social outcast to some degree although he seemed happy with his simple life style.
According to urban legends, or perhaps they were not actually legends at all, before John was born, his Aunt Mary visited his mother to announce the coming birth of her first child. She was not yet aware that John had also been conceived a few months earlier. When Mary spoke to Elizabeth, the unborn baby John was so blessed that he leapt within his mother’s womb. Although John has never claimed to have remembered this pre-natal event, he did talk of it and how his mother often remarked that John and his cousin had unusual futures ahead of them.
Other events were recounted by John during his short life. He claimed that his Aunt Mary had conceived his cousin without being married. In fact, he claimed that her pregnancy was supernatural, that she was a virgin until the baby was born. Because the story sounds so preposterous, few people tended to believe it. Still, John said that he definitely believed that his cousin was born of a virgin.
There were odd circumstances concerning the birth of both John and his cousin. In John’s case, Zacharias, his father, lost his ability to speak before John was born. When it came time to announce the name of the baby, everyone expected him to be named Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth did not approve. She said to call him John. Neighbors asked Zacharias about the boy’s name. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote that his son was to be named John. Then, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed, enabling him to talk and especially to praise God. It seems that the neighborhood had awesome feelings about that family from that time forward.
Although the people around John’s home town are generally not well-off financially, the young people, in particular, tried to be as presentable as possible, taking regular baths and keeping their hair and bodies neat. John, however, was not as vain as others his age. His hair usually needed to be trimmed and combed, but he neglected doing those vain activities.
As John got older, he was possessed of the notion that he was designated by God to be a prophet. In fact, he claimed that God was going to use him as the proverbial ‘voice in the wilderness’ that many Jews expected to witness in their lifetimes. That may be why John did not take more interest in his own appearance or his own comforts.
He chose unusual wearing apparel. Leather clothing made of camel’s hide and a girdle of leather around his waist made John seem odd in appearance. His victuals, too, were simple. He ate insects and honey from wild bee nests.
John began a religious ministry, which did not surprise his family or neighbors. His message was a warning of the need for people to repent and clean up their lives. He claimed that God’s Kingdom was becoming very near and that people should begin living according to God’s written word. He spoke against corruption among the people and in the government. He spoke out against selfish motives. At one time, he even told the soldiers to ‘be content with your wages’ rather than asking for more income so often. John seemed to be an evangelist preaching on the theme of repentance.
This writer was present to witness when John met his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was customary at the time for people to declare themselves to be on God’s side by having John the Baptist go through the ceremony of water baptism. I, myself, watched when Jesus approached John, his cousin. He said he wanted to be baptized, but John refused by saying that he should be baptized by Jesus instead of being the one who baptised the Son of God. John did accept his duty to baptize Jesus, however.
I shall never forget that event. They entered the river, John baptized Jesus by immersion, and the supernatural happened. It felt like the heavens, maybe Heaven itself, opened up. A strange Spirit came out of the heavens and sat upon Jesus. It was so unforgettable! Then, to add to the royal atmosphere around us, a booming voice came from Heaven saying, “This is my Son in Whom I am well-pleased.” There is no way that this writer can ever forget this happening! This marked the beginning of the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.
When Jesus began His ministry, the miracles and the teaching which He did brought great crowds of people. Some of the followers of John decided that Jesus and His followers were encroaching upon their duties. John, however, declared that he, himself, must decrease in popularity while Jesus must increase. He referred to Jesus as the Messiah and as the Lamb of God, One Who must die for the sins of others.
Shortly after the baptism of Jesus, John was put in prison because of speaking out about an incestuous relationship between Herod Antipas, the tetrarch in Galilee, and a female named Herodias. While in prison, John began wondering if Jesus was actually the One whom he had expected. He sent messengers to Jesus to ask if He was actually the Messiah. His momentary doubting seems encouraging to this writer; it seems that the enemy of our souls wants us to doubt Jesus.
Jesus claimed that John’s appearance on the scene related to the return of the prophet Elijah, one of the two men listed in the Scriptures who did not die.
However, John did die. The event seems to revolve around a very erotic dance done by Salome. This dance appealed to Herod Antipas so much that he promised the girl anything she would ask for. She asked for the head of John the Baptist. It was delivered.
John the Baptist was undoubtedly the last of the Old Testament prophets. Most of John’s followers became followers of Jesus since John felt that his duty was to witness to Jesus’ role as the Messiah, the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.
Although this writer knew both John and Jesus, he chooses to keep each in his own place in Christianity. John was a forerunner. He was a witness, just as I am. Jesus was and is the only Savior of whosoever will come to Him.
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