John the Baptist

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of woman there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist... (Matthew 11:11).

John the Baptist was a miracle baby who, like Isaac, was given to an older couple who had passed child-bearing age. He had been filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb and later given the task of preparing the way for the Messiah. Not only did he fulfill the Old Testament prophecy, but Christ called him the greatest of all the prophets, and he had the privilege of baptizing his Lord.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, And said unto his servants, this is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him (Matthew 14:1-2).

John was outspoken against Herod Antipas when he divorced his wife to marry Herodias, his brother's wife. It led to John being beheaded sometime around 32 A.D. Herod must have realized that John was special because when Jesus came to Herod's attention, the ruler said He must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. Perhaps his conscience was bothering him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Phillip's wife. For John said unto him, it is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.... And he sent, and beheaded John in prison (Matthew 14:3-10).

John was related to Jesus and also had the great privilege of presenting Jesus to the world and preparing the people of Israel to receive him (Luke 1:5; 7:18-28). What a special person John must have been, and yet, it was necessary for him to pray, as well as teach his disciples to pray. Prayer is the key to a spirit-filled life, and John is just one biblical example of this.

(Parts taken from Prayer 101 by Warren W. Wiersbe)

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