The Life of John the Baptist
By +Gabriel O. Obiano, D.D. Today, the Church remembers John the Baptist, the man chosen by God to prepare the way for Jesus. His life was not long, not easy, and not comfortable. Yet his life was powerful. He lived only to serve God and point people to Christ. John was born in a miracle. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were old and had no children. An Angel told Zechariah that they would have a son and that his name would be John. This child would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare people for the coming of the Lord. At first, Zechariah doubted, and because of that, he became silent until John was born. When John came into the world, Zechariah praised God, and everyone knew this child was special. John did not grow up like other children. He lived a simple and hard life. He stayed in the desert, away from comfort and luxury. He wore clothes made of camel hair and ate locusts and wild honey. He did not live for pleasure. He lived for God. When John began to preach, h...
