John the Baptist (sometimes written “John the Baptiser”) was a major religious figure in the New Testament of the Bible. Here’s a summary:
🕊️ Who He Was
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Parentage: Son of Zechariah (a priest) and Elizabeth, who was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
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Birth: His birth was considered miraculous because his parents were elderly and childless; an angel announced it before his conception (Luke 1).
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Role: He was a prophet and forerunner of Jesus, meaning he prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah.
🌊 What He Did
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Preaching: John preached repentance and moral renewal, urging people to turn away from sin because “the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2).
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Baptism: He baptized people in the Jordan River as a symbol of repentance — that’s why he’s called “the Baptist.”
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Baptized Jesus: John famously baptized Jesus, marking the start of Jesus’s public ministry. During that event, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove.
⚖️ His Death
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John criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying his brother’s wife Herodias, which led to John being imprisoned and eventually beheaded (Matthew 14:1–12).
✨ Legacy
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In Christianity, John is seen as the last prophet before Christ and a model of courage and faithfulness.
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In Islam, he’s also revered as the prophet Yahya, known for his purity and devotion to God.
