“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
On July 7, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Christmas of the honest glorious prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
It is a great holiday, but it does not enter the Twelve. This means that the Church attaches great importance to it, and it is celebrated solemnly and joyfully.
On this day we remember how 2,000 years ago, at the turn of the Old and New Testaments, the future Forerunner was born in the family of the priest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. He not only foretold the coming of the Messiah with his fiery preaching, he prepared the way for Christ. The crown of John’s life was the baptism of the Savior.
The Gospel of Luke describes in detail the unusual conception and birth of John. His parents were faithful and righteous people. However, they had no children.
In ancient times, this meant that they were guilty before God. When Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, an angel appeared to Zechariah and announced that he would become a father. The priest was so surprised that he did not believe it. He was punished for not being able to speak until the baby was born. An unusual name for the Zechariah family was also chosen by an angel.
Thus the first John appeared in the family of many relatives.
With the birth of a child, Zechariah regained the ability to speak and he loudly glorified the Lord.
9 Facts About John the Baptist
1. He and Jesus are relatives of David. John was born on the summer day.
The solstice is when the day begins to diminish. Christ at that time of year, when
The day begins to arrive.
2. The forerunner baptized Christ in the Jordan, thereby dividing his life into “before” and “before.”
«after.» Jesus came to the Jordan as one of many. After baptism, he
He becomes a public figure.
3. The baptism of Jesus was necessary to deliver mankind from sin. How
Christ needed blessing on a difficult and dangerous mission. He,
He was baptized in the same way that others accepted in the purification of sins.
4. From the Gospel of John we learn that after baptism Christ still visited.
John, and several times. During the last meeting, 2 disciples of the prophet
They left him and went after Christ. One of them is Andrew the First-Called.
5. Even from prison, John continued to follow Jesus’ mission. He even sent
His disciples came to him to see for themselves that Christ is the Savior.
6. Christ appreciated John very much. He said that among those born of wives, there was none.
above him.
7. John died as a martyr. He was beheaded by order of King Herod. Ancient
The historian Josephus in his works confirms this case, which
It is described in detail in the Gospel. He became a forerunner in death.
8. Church tradition states that after his death, the Baptist descended to hell.
and there prepare the way for Christ.
9. Jesus endured the death of John. He went to a deserted place and grieved.
alone.
John was a true prophet. He did not only call others to righteousness, repentance and baptism. He lived the life of a righteous man. The forerunner still serves as an example of how one can accept the teaching of God and serve Him “with all his strength, with all his mind, with all his heart.”
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