# John the Baptist ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The immediate precursor or herald of Jesus. John identified Jesus as the Messianic Lamb of God and baptized him in the Jordan River. With prophetic power, John gave witness to Jesus by his preaching, by the baptism of conversion he announced, and finally by his martyrdom ([[1.2.2.3.p1l#^ccc-523|523]], [[1.2.3.8.p23#^ccc-720|720]]). ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible **John the Baptist** Ascetic: [[matthew-03#^matthew-03-1|Mt 3:1, 4]]; [[matthew-09#^matthew-09-14|9:14]]; [[matthew-11#^matthew-11-19|11:19]]; [[mark-01#^mark-01-4|Mk 1:4, 6]]; [[luke-01#^luke-01-15|Lk 1:15]]; [[luke-03#^luke-03-2|3:2]]; [[luke-07#^luke-07-33|7:33]] Baptized Jesus Christ: [[matthew-03#^matthew-03-13|Mt 3:13-17]]; [[mark-01#^mark-01-9|Mk 1:9-11]]; [[luke-03#^luke-03-21|Lk 3:21-22]]; [[john-01#^john-01-32|Jn 1:32-34]] Baptized others in Israel in preparation for the Messiah: [[matthew-03#^matthew-03-11|Mt 3:11-12]]; [[mark-01#^mark-01-7|Mk 1:7-8]]; [[luke-03#^luke-03-16|Lk 3:16-16]]; [[john-01#^john-01-26|Jn 1:26-27]] Criticized many of the Pharisees and Sadducees: [[matthew-03#^matthew-03-7|Mt 3:7-10]] Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb: [[luke-01#^luke-01-15|Lk 1:15]] Fulfilled the role of Elijah but was not Elijah: [[matthew-11#^matthew-11-14|Mt 11:14]]; [[mark-09#^mark-09-11|Mk 9:11-13]]; [[luke-01#^luke-01-17|Lk 1:17]]; [[john-01#^john-01-21|Jn 1:21]] Greatest among the Old Covenant prophets: [[matthew-11#^matthew-11-11|Mt 11:11]] Imprisoned and martyred by Herod Antipas: [[matthew-14#^matthew-14-3|Mt 14:3-12]]; [[mark-06#^mark-06-17|Mk 6:17-29]]; [[luke-03#^luke-03-19|Lk 3:19-20]]; [[luke-09#^luke-09-9|9:9]] Prophet: [[matthew-14#^matthew-14-5|Mt 14:5]]; [[mark-06#^mark-06-15|Mk 6:15]]; [[mark-11#^mark-11-32|11:32]]; [[luke-01#^luke-01-76|Lk 1:76]]; [[luke-07#^luke-07-26|7:26]] Relative of Jesus: [[luke-01#^luke-01-36|Lk 1:36]] Son of Zechariah and Elizabeth: [[luke-01#^luke-01-5|Lk 1:5-25, 57-66]] Teaching of John: [[luke-03#^luke-03-3|Lk 3:3, 7-19]]; [[john-01#^john-01-20|Jn 1:20-27]] ### Sources [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]]