Learn by Topic: St. John the Baptist

If you want to know how impressive someone is, look at the impressiveness of their followers.  Impressive people follow more impressive people: “A disciple is not greater than his master” (Matt 10:24).

John the Baptist, the son of the elderly priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, after a miraculous conception, grew up and was baptizing in the wilderness east of the Jordan River. His deeds and preaching was so powerful that he attracted a lot of attention and a lot of followers.  The powerful Pharisees in Jerusalem are getting nervous because people were saying that John was the long-awaited Christ or a resurrected Elijah, so they sent priests out to question John (John 1:19-28).

John, in the humility of a truly great soul, does not claim credit for himself, but says:

“…among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:26-27). (more…)