·
Jewish
prophet, considered by Christians to be the forerunner of Jesus
·
Son
of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who was also a kinswoman of Mary, the mother of
Jesus
·
His
birth was miraculously foretold.
·
After
spending some time in the desert, he received a divine call to preach
repentance to the people of the Jordan valley in preparation for the Messiah.
·
He
baptized his followers, and he baptized Jesus, whom he believed to be the Son
of God.
·
John's
vigorous preaching and great popularity enraged the aristocracy, and he
offended Herodias, wife of Herod by rebuking her publicly.
·
At
her instigation and at the direct request of her daughter Salome he was
beheaded (Matthew 11:1-19; 17:11-13; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 1:5-80; 3:1-20; John
1:15-36).
·
John
is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus.
·
Christians
have long venerated St. John the Baptist; he is the only saint besides the
Virgin Mary whose birthday is celebrated every June 24.
·
The
feast of his beheading is August 29.
Source:
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/JohnBaptSt
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