Saint John the Baptist, Precursor of Jesus.
John the Baptist, is the precursor of Jesus. He was always announcing that he was preparing the arrival of the true Messiah. His story is a true miracle, considering that his parents, Zacarias and Isabel were already elderly people, reason enough for his procreation to be unlikely, but it happened that God in his infinite mercy granted the elders the privilege of being parents and bring John to the world.
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It happened that one day Zacarias listens to the voice of an angel who reveals to him that his wife was pregnant, that he will have a male who must be named Juan, before which he shows himself incredulous and just at that moment his lips were sealed and could not utter a word, until the day the child was born.
Saint John is the only saint to whom his birthday is celebrated, six months before the birth of his cousin Jesus. There are not many details about his childhood and youth; It is related that he lived in the desert, wearing a camel skin, eating wild fruits, roots, lobsters and honey, in total silence, fasting and pettiness.
He baptized with water from the Jordan River, all those who wanted to be cleansed of their sins, but always announcing that it was not the Messiah, who is only baptizing with water, that soon there would be one who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
San Juan Bautista, was the one who dared to denounce the sinful relationship between Herod Antipas and his brother's wife, it happened then that Salome, his niece, asked for Juan's head on a silver tray, being imprisoned and later beheaded.
"I am a voice that cries out in the desert, straighten the way of the Lord"
This answered San Juan Bautista, when they asked him ... Who are you?
God had a special purpose for John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel talked face to face with his father.
(Luke 1:12-17 NIV) When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. {13} But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. {14} He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, {15} for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. {16} Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. {17} And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet, meaning the last prophet before the death and resurrection of Christ. He was to take a Nazarite vow--he wouldn't cut his hair or drink wine.
The coming of John the Baptist was prophesied.
(Matthew 11:13-14 NIV) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. {14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
(Isaiah 40:3 NIV) A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
thanks for complementing the writing.
The Baptist was a lesson in austerity from what I wear, ate, lifestyle, I lead a life of contemplation to God.
He always announced about the coming of the Savior of the world, to which he declared I am not worthy to even untie his sandals.