29 AD. 2. Most likely, it was a blood relationship, but neither a particularly close or distant one. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Pieter Brueghel the Elder: The Sermon of Saint John the Baptist. Although, like earlier prophets, John had an inner circle of disciples, baptism was not an admission rite into this group. For example, the scathing accusations and warnings of John are associated with the ministry of Jesus ( Luke 3:7-18 ), but in the end are not typical of his message. Eventually, after her daughter Salome delighted Antipas with a special dance at his birthday party, Herodias was able to manipulate him into giving the order for Johns death by beheading (Mark 6:21-28). The first chapter surveys various anecdotes about John's food in the Synoptic gospels and notes that there has never been a consensus in scholarship concerning John's locusts and wild honey. 3 "Into what then were you baptized?" he asked them. John grew up strong in spirit. In conclusion, John the Baptist is of great theological importance in the New Testament. But many of the stories and teachings are unique to John's Gospel.For instance, only John tells us that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, changed water into wine, or told Nicodemus about God's love for the world (John 3:16-17). The Scriptures describe Elizabeth as a woman who is "righteous in the eyes of God, careful to obey all of the Lord's commands and regulations" (Luke 1:6). Lustration rites had always been important in Judaism. When St. Paul returned to Ephesus, he found about a dozen of his apparent disciples in Ephesus, who had heard of Johns baptism but not Christian baptism and the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). John flatly denied that he was Elijah reincarnated ( John 1:21 John 1:25 ). John is often considered the youngest of the twelve. Rockefeller suffered from alopecia and lost all hair from his body and head. John's special office ceased with the baptism of Jesus, who must now "increase" as the King come to his kingdom. John, who had spoken out against immorality, targeted Herod Antipas, who had repudiated his wife in order to marry Herodias. Elizabeth, being elderly, may have been an aunt, great-aunt, or one of the many types of cousin. The precise relationship cannot be determined. The Gospel According to John reduces the Baptist from an Elijah to a model Christian preacher, a mere voice; it omits any description of Jesus baptism. Luke tells us that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were "blameless" when it . 6) Was John the Baptist Elijah reincarnated? But for all of his greatness, John was merely human. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. John's lifestyle was as austere as his message. Home. It appears that John was a disciple of John the Baptist until he was called to follow Jesus at the outset of the Lord's ministry. Verses 26-38 contained God's announcement to Mary that she had been selected to . At length he came forth into public life, and great multitudes from "every quarter" were attracted to him. The fate of John the Baptist's remains is a topic of much speculation among biblical scholars, but what is known is that, in the third and fourth centuries, reports began to appear of his bones . Daily Readings for Friday, March 03, 2023, St. Katharine Drexel: Saint of the Day for Friday, March 03, 2023, Lenten Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Monday, February 27, 2023. Facts About John the Apostle | Only One Hope 2022-07-27 2022-07-27. St. John the Baptist, (born 1st decade bce, Judaea, Palestine, near Jerusalemdied 2836 ce; feast day June 24), Jewish prophet of priestly origin who preached the imminence of Gods Final Judgment and baptized those who repented in self-preparation for it; he is revered in the Christian church as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Reconnect with the Gospel of John - Jesus Film Project John's church took place in the wilderness. These were apparently converts made by Apollos based on his knowledge of John the Baptists movement, before he learned the full message of Christ. Was John the Baptist the Greatest Man to Ever Live? - Learn Religions As per John 1: 35-39, he was one of two disciples of John the Baptist who . (March, A.D. 29 AD. The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) share many of the same stories and teachings. On them, therefore, he enjoined charity and consideration for others. 1. or school. Another initiative announced was the creation of a memorial for victims of abuse. According to the New Testament, he was a preacher who baptized people. The gospels portray him as a complex man. As Matthew 3:6 says, "Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.". He listened to Johns preaching, was inspired by it and submitted to baptism in his turn. John the Baptist was born through the intercession of God to Zachariah and Elizabeth, who was otherwise too old to bear children. Who Was John the Baptist? 6 Biblical Truths from His Life - Crosswalk.com 11:26-30), John the Baptist (John 3:26-30), Jesus (Luke 9:46-50), and; Paul (Phil. Abgar's court was in Edessa in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Abstract. And finally, the psychological and sociological analysis of John is of interest here. In his darkest hour he questioned if Jesus was the One who was to come, or whether there would be another. Islamic tradition states that John was one of the Prophets that Muhammad met on the night of the Miraj, his ascension through the seven heavens. A Nazarite was a person who gave up certain things to commune with God in a state of holiness. I am going to tell how he did this, and why he is so . How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Zechariah is from the tribe of Levi, the same tribes that Moses, Aaron, Ezra, and Asaph hail from. The Story of John the Baptist - Life, Hope & Truth Most were peaceful, and their sole aim appeared to be to prompt God to intervene once again and rescue the people from the oppressive Roman rule. Muslims believe that John was a witness to the word of God, and a messenger to tell the people of the coming of Jesus. Zacharias did not believe what he . His supernatural birth, his life, and the general expectation that some great one was about to appear, were sufficient to attract to him a great multitude from "every quarter." St. John Baptist de La Salle was born in 1651, in Reims, France. If he wasnt so afraid of what his dinner guests would think, would Herod have embraced the message of John the Baptistand ultimately the message of Jesus the Messiah? In other words, he asked them to repent. Their mother was Salome. JOHN THE BAPTIST: HIS LIFE, TEACHINGS AND BEHEADING - Facts and Details Apollos was from Alexandria in North Africa and at one point knew only of the baptism of John ( Acts 18:24-25 ). John the Baptist was one of the most popular religious leaders in the time of Jesus. John fulfilled Malachi's prophecy in a spiritual sense, rather than in a literal way. John was Jesus' hype man. By identifying John the Baptist as the Elijah who was to come, Jesus indicated that the fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy was not meant to be taken in the literalistic way that the scribes of his day took it. Synopsis. During his lifetime he had a following of disciples who shared common practices such as fasting and prayers ( Matt 9:14 ; John 1:35-37 ; 4:1-2 ). Interesting Facts about John the Baptist | Only One Hope One of these was Addai, who became Addal's successor. Some people believe that Jesus was referring to Johns position and assignment in history, or referencing the fact that John was anointed to preach with the power of Elijah. The fact is, love is bold and strong. While the Gospels may appear to differ from Josephus, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the differences are of . He and his brother James fished in the Sea of Galilee with their father Zebedee. God's Story: John the Baptist. The axe is laid to the roots and God will thoroughly purge his threshing floor ( Matt 3:10-12 ; Luke 3:9 Luke 3:17 ). Anne Franks Legacy: How Her Story Changed the World. 2. The fourth location is the 13th century cathedral in Amiens, France which was built for the sole purpose of housing Johns head. His austere camels hair garment was the traditional garb of the prophets, and his diet of locusts and wild honey represented either strict adherence to Jewish purity laws or the ascetic conduct of a Nazirite (a Jew especially vowed to Gods service). The revelation of Jesus as Messiah is the theme of todays Gospel and so we take another look at St. John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus Christ. Inspiration Faith & Prayer Health & Wellness Entertainment Love & Family. If you read 2 Kings 2:11, youll see that instead of dying Elijah was assumed into heaven by a whirlwind (biblical text here). Shortly before Jesus began preaching in Galilee, John was arrested and imprisoned for denouncing a flagrant sin committed by Herod the tetrarch (Matthew 14:1-9). He did this because of Herodias. Here are a few more facts and Interesting things about John the Baptist. John D. Rockefeller: 10 exciting facts about this business magnate. Tom Holland sits down with Dan to talk about the history of Christianity, and how the religion has shaped morality in Western civilisation to this day. The belief that Elijah would return and prepare the way of the Lord can be traced to Malachi 3:1 and 4:5. The Jewish rite of baptism of converts differs fundamentally and is not its source. Baptists: 10 Important Things to Know About The Church Beliefs John's parents are Zachariah and Elizabeth (who is called the cousin of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.) John preached about Gods final judgment and baptized repentant followers in preparation for it. Eventually, he entered the Catholic Church. The fact that Jesus was not an ascetic, and that he actively sought the fellowship of publicans and sinners may have been an offense to John and his disciples ( Matt 9:9-17 ; Matt 11:18-19 ; Luke 7:33-34 ).Jesus may have rebuked John in this regard when he said, "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me" ( Matt 11:6 ; Luke 7:23 ). Who was Zacchaeus? 5 Things To Know from His Bible Story - Crosswalk.com The covenanters at Qumran also observed strict ritual purity and even built a complex system of pools, cisterns and aqueducts to accommodate this need. Its name has been attributed to the Nativity of John the Baptist, when John Cabot was believed to have sailed . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Christian communitys awareness of more of the details likely came through a woman named Joanna, who was the wife of a man named Chuza, who was a steward of Herod Antipas and thus a court insider. Such belief is also found in the extra biblical accounts of Sirah 48:10 and 2 Esdras 6:2f. Ado's holiness made him enemies, and he was forced to leave Prum. Herod Antipass wife, Herodias, hated John with a passion. EIN 27-4581132 Jesus baptism is a sign of solidarity with humanity as well as proclamation of who he is, his identity and mission. John called people to turn to God and to prepare for the coming of the messiah . Moreover, John attracted large crowds, a potential source of trouble. John The Apostle Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements John the Baptist. John the Baptist wasn't reckless. According to scriptures, the Angel Gabriel visited Elizabeth and Zachariah to tell them they would . This means that Jesus and John were cousins in one or another senses of the term. John the Apostle: Facts & Biography - Study.com John was arrested and beheaded by Herod Antipas around AD 29, while Jesus was still alive and ministering. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him (Mark 6:17-20). Nothing but the death of the Baptist would satisfy the resentment of Herodias. 6. What John the Baptist Missed in His Expectations of Jesus - Word by Word Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Because as the Hebrew version of Josephus's Wars says he was called 'Rabbi John the . 1) How was John the Baptist related to Jesus? In the end, his life was cut short because he criticized a king for sinning. What Was the Atlantic Wall and When Was It Built? He conducted his ministry with an eschatological authority that demanded immediate action. After a period of desert solitude, John the Baptist emerged as a prophet in the region of the lower Jordan River valley. Get time period newsletters, special offers and weekly programme release emails. Nor is a hypothesis that it symbolized a new Israels crossing of the Red Sea toward a new national deliverance demonstrable. She must go down into the world like Jesus Christ. Similarly, upon arriving in Ephesus, Paul encountered about a dozen disciples of John. Life Lessons From John the Baptist - G3 Ministries "As a preacher, John was eminently practical and discriminating. John the Baptist (A4 British) pdf. 5 Awesome Facts About John The Baptist - Beliefnet Jimmy Akin Jimmy was born in Texas and grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its capital city, San Juan.. For example, the inclusion of the suffering and death of John may foreshadow the pain and death of Jesus on the cross. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. J.C. Ryle said, "Duties are duties. Addal cured Abgar and converted the king and his people to the faith. But occasionally, we may get things wrong, or information becomes outdated. Marilyn Manson. John the Baptist was an unusual character for . It is interesting to note that four of the greatest men in the Bible faced this problem of comparison and competition: Moses (Num. He denied that he was the Christ and repeatedly emphasized that he was simply a witness to the Light ( John 1:19-23 ; cf. R. E. Brown, New Testament Essays; M. Cleary, IT Q54 (1988): 211-27; M. Faierstein, JBL100 (1981): 75-86; R. C. Kazmierski, Bib 68(1987): 22-40; J. Lambrecht, NTS38 (1992): 357-84; P. J. Meier, JBL99/3(1980): 383-405; J. R. Miller, NTS 34 (1988): 611-22; S. J. Nortje, Neotestamentica23 (1989): 349-58; P. Parker, Perspectives in Religious Studies8 (1981): 4-11;J. 20 Brief Facts about the Life and Death of St. John the Baptist. The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24 (or June 23 in most places in 2022, because of the coincidence with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart on June 24) , and the . Facts about John the Baptist | TheFactSite He wasn't proud so he didn't grasp on . In this way Jesus acknowledges the central role that John played in God's plan of salvation. The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved: 24 Surprising Facts - Heroes 2 9. The traditional burial site, at Sebaste (originally Samaria), near Aenon by Salim, is attested from 360 onward. Verses 1-25 contained God's announcement to Zacharias that his barren and aged wife, would give birth to a son (John the Baptist) who would be used by God to prepare Israel for God's Messiah (Jesus Christ). John the Baptist was a real person. Three of Jesus' twelve disciples belonged to the inner circle. Abbot Lupus Servatus, an outstanding humanist of the time, trained Ado, and was impressed with the obvious holiness of the young man. French Monastery Survives War and Famine After 885 Years, the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan, and More Great Links! Not the least of them is that Elijah never died. John the Baptist's birth was a divinely orchestrated foil, used by God to reignite remembrance and longing in the hearts of God's people for the day of the Messiah's coming. 4. Piero della Francesca: The Baptism of Christ. John continued to work in Judaea, while Jesus took his mission to Galilee. He denounced the Sadducees and Pharisees as a "generation of vipers," and warned them of the folly of trusting to external privileges ( Luke 3:8 ). The wilderness held great significance for the people of the Second Temple period, for whom it served several functions. The Chronological Gospel: John the Baptist - Daily Bible Study Tips Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on Catholic Answers Live.. He was born somewhere in Judaea (localized at En Kerem from at least 530 ce) to Zechariah, a priest of the order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, perhaps a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. John stated that Jesus was greater than he, and that Jesus had a more powerful ministry and baptism ( Mark 1:7-8 ; Luke 3:16 ; John 1:26-27 ). This identification was made when he baptized Jesus: I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. Pope Francis, Biden Commend Peacemaker Bishop OConnell as Memorial Services Begin. Here are 10 facts about John the Baptist. The ascetic, Bannus, lived in the desert and practiced ritual bathing in order to be pure as he took his meals. Most were seen as dangerous dissenters by the Roman authorities and dealt with accordingly. The movement he began ended up having followers in distant lands. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. John was filled with the Holy Spirit, even before he was born, and the Holy Spirit in John bore witness to the fact that the Messiah was nearby. He did not hesitate to expose the immorality of Herod and chose to die a martyr's death rather than compromise his convictions ( Matt 14:3-12 ; Mark 6:17-29 ). 28.) That would be Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great, who inherited the regions of Galilee and Perea as his territories. Baptism is important to celebrate because its the date of our rebirth as children of God, Francis said, and he gave those present the homework of finding the date of theirs during the coming week. "No," they told him, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.". According to Jesus Christ, John the Baptist stands as the greatest prophet in the Bible (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). Her story is told in Luke 1:5-80. In this type of study, John often serves as a paradigm for interpreting the life and ministry of Jesus. It is said that both John the Baptist and Jesus were in the second heaven. His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention ( Luke 1:57-80 ). Each of these elements reflects an aspect of Johns preaching. We will send you the latest TV programmes, podcast episodes and articles, as well as exclusive offers from our shop and carefully selected partners. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly (Mark 6:20). Here are a few more facts and Interesting things about John the Baptist. He also says, I baptize you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire; this second baptism might symbolize the judgment the one coming would carry out. There are a few differing opinions on the origin of the Baptist church. Indeed, John was not the only prophet to be associated with baptism. He records that one of Herods armies was destroyed the A.D. 36 and states: The details of Josephus account differ from the gospels. Only 30 of 175 dioceses ordained an average number of priests at or above replacement level over the five years from 2016 to 2021, according to the report. John the Baptist was born through the intercession of God to Zachariah and Elizabeth, who was otherwise too old to bear children. According to scriptures, the Angel Gabriel visited Elizabeth and Zachariah to tell them they would have a son and that they should name him John. It is thought that John was born about six months before Jesus. John the Apostle Facts for Kids - Kiddle Then in Mark 6:26, Herodias tricked her husband into murdering John the Baptist, the king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 3. As a result, God would forgive them their sins. 20 Brief Facts about the Life and Death of St. John the Baptist Much of the time when you hear John the Baptist talk in the book of John, you hear him quoting the scriptures. A. T. Robinson, NTS4 (1958): 263-81; idem, Twelve New Testament Studies;C. Scobie, John the Baptist; W. Wink, John the Baptist in the Gospel Tradition. John's disciples survived his death and spread throughout the Mediterranean world. Superbook appears and takes Chris, Joy, Gizmo, AND Charlie to witness the birth of John the Baptist. St. John was born into a family of priests and was the ancestor of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. Zechariah is from the tribe of Levi. The publicans he cautioned against extortion, the soldiers against crime and plunder." He did not want to baptize Jesus, but rather desired to be baptized by Jesus ( Matt 3:13-14 ).John allowed his disciples to leave his own leadership and follow after Jesus ( John 1:35-39 ). ( Luke 11:1 ) But shortly after he had given his testimony to the Messiah, Johns public ministry was brought to a close. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia ( 1Chronicles 24:10 ), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron ( Luke 1:5 ). Facts about Zechariah (John the Baptist's Father) - OverviewBible Salome, prompted by her abandoned mother, demanded the head of John the Baptist. Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon Brilliant Rivals, Hitler vs Stalin: The Battle for Stalingrad, How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Humanity, Hasdrubal Barca: How Hannibals Fight Against Rome Depended on His Brother, Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage, Bones in the Attic: The Forgotten Fallen of Waterloo, How Climate and the Natural World Have Shaped Civilisations Across Time, The Rise and Fall of Charles Ponzi: How a Pyramid Scheme Changed the Face of Finance Forever. John the Baptist (born 1st century BC, died between 28-36 AD) was a Jewish prophet of the Jordan River region, celebrated by the Christian church as the Forerunner to Jesus Christ. 1. According to Scripture, Herods stepdaughter Salome requested Johns head to make her mother happy, Herodias, and Herod was obliged to fulfill the request. The root word of Nazirite, Nazir, means holy or set apart, and a Nazirites actions did indeed separate them from the rest of the world. 18 f. par. Stations of the Cross: Every Friday of Lent, St. Sebastian Sterling Silver Softball Medal - Female, St. Joan of Arc Sterling Silver Round Medal, Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting: The Three Pillars of Lent. 3. ), Saint John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet who preached the imminence of God's final judgment. John the Baptist and Jesus: History and Hypotheses - Cambridge Core This has led some New Agers to assert that John the Baptist was the reincarnation of Elijah. Image Credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest via Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. Newsletters Special Offers. Advent is a time of remembering . It pleased God. In fact, some contemporaries of John inquired if he were Elijah ( John 1:21 ). (The KJV, NKJV and the NIV are used in this quiz.) The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24 (or June 23 in most places in 2022, because of the coincidence with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart on June 24) , and the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist is Aug. 29, so its an excellent time to catch up on him. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Since Zacchaeus was "short in stature," he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up . He wanted to help others change their lives so they could become like a brand new person . Updates? . He started out as a bit of an arrogant man, and was somewhat of a loose cannon, but as time went on and he walked with Jesus, he became more mellow. Elijah himself was not to return and go about Judaea, ministering to people. Eventually, the two men established a coordinated campaign in order to save as many people as they could. Image Credit: Los Angeles County Museum of Art via Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. But after imprisoning John, its possible that something shifted in Herod. As odd as it may sound, John the Baptists head is considered to be a relic. John was that voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way for the coming Messiah ( Isa 40:3 ; Matt 3:3 ; Mark 1:2-3 ; Luke 3:3-6 ). Although his formative years were lived in obscurity in the desert ( Luke 1:80 ), his public ministry ended nearly four hundred years of prophetic silence. Even Sapir (near Jerusalem), Israel- Wikimedia. The legacy and example of John the Baptist. John the Baptist appears in the Gospels, certain extra-canonical Gospels, and in two works by the Romano-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Unlike Jesus, he expected people to come to him, rather than he going to them ( Matt 3:5 ). John 13:5 says that Jesus began to wash their feet: the washing was interrupted by Peter's initial refusal to allow Jesus to wash his feet, but John 13:12 suggests that the task was later completed and the feet of all the Disciples were washed, including those of Judas, as Jesus then took back His garments and reclined. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. St. John the Baptist has a birthday on June 24: one of the oldest feasts in the liturgy and, aside from the birthdays of Our Lord and His Mother and Pentecost, if you will, the . His formative years were spent in the Judaean desert, where monastic communities, such as the Essenes (a strict Jewish sect that existed from about the 2nd century bce to the end of the 1st century ce), and individual hermits often educated the young in their own ideals. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) teach that modern revelation confirms the biblical account of John the Baptist, and teaches things that were left out of the Bible Things such as being ordained by an angel when he was just 8 days old to prepare a way for Jesus. In the wake of new restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, two American bishops spoke with EWTNs Raymond Arroyo Thursday about how their dioceses have responded. See ( John 3:23 ; 4:1 ; Acts 19:3 ) We gather also that John instructed his disciples in certain moral and religious duties, as fasting, ( Matthew 9:14 ; Luke 5:33 ) and prayer. A court festival was kept at Machaerus in honor of the kings birthday. Mormons also believe that on May 15, 1829, appeared as a resurrected being to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and ordained them to the Aaronic Priesthood. Johns denunciation of this marriage doubtless presented Herod with the danger that his Jewish subjects would combine with his semi-Arab subjects in opposition to him. Instead, someone like Elijah was to appear and do this, and that person was John the Baptist. Johns ethical call for justice and charity in Luke 3 requires righteousness from everyone. John was related to Jesus through their mothers. 5. He didn't complain. 5. Equally unprovable is that it was a rite symbolizing mans reunion with divinity and return to his heavenly homea sacrament of salvation and rebirth. His may have resembled in parts the initiatory baptism of the Essenes, though their other baptisms were more concerned with maintaining their communitys ritual purity. 11) Where do we learn of John the Baptist outside the New Testament? One of these seems to have been Apollos, who later became a Christian evangelist. Elizabeth - Mother of John the Baptist - Learn Religions He taught that judgment is at hand. All rights reserved. John was a preacher, a priest and a prophet. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? John is known as the son of Zebedee and the brother of James. John the Baptist was raised of God to introduce the Lord Jesus [Luke 1:76-79], and he did it; and the true disciples of John the Baptist entered the Christian movement: John, the man who wrote the fourth gospel, Simon Peter, Andrew - all of the apostles of the Lord Jesus were disciples of John the Baptist [John 1:35-42].