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'''John the Baptist''' was born March 25, 7 B.C., fulfilling the promise of the angel [[Gabriel]] to Elizabeth in June of the previous year. For five months Elizabeth kept secret the angel's visitation and when she finally told her husband, [[Zacharias]], he was greatly troubled and fully believed her narrative only after he had an unusual dream about six weeks before the birth of John. Zacharius was struck dumb (unable to speak), until John was born.  On the eighth day of his life, John was [[circumcision|circumcised]] according to the [[Jewish]] custom. He grew up as an ordinary boy in the small village known as the City of Judah, about four miles west of [[Jerusalem]].

'''John the Baptist''' was born March 25, 7 B.C., and holds the distinction of being the man chosen to baptize [[Jesus Christ]].

 

John's birth fulfilled the promise of the angel [[Gabriel]] to Elizabeth in June of the previous year. For five months Elizabeth kept secret the angel's visitation and when she finally told her husband, [[Zacharias]], he was greatly troubled and fully believed her narrative only after he had an unusual dream about six weeks before the birth of John. Zacharius was struck dumb (unable to speak), until John was born.  On the eighth day of his life, John was [[circumcision|circumcised]] according to the [[Jewish]] custom. He grew up as an ordinary boy in the small village known as the City of Judah, about four miles west of [[Jerusalem]].

The most eventful occurrence in John's early childhood was the visit, in company with his parents, to [[Jesus]] and the Nazareth family. This visit occurred in the month of June, 1 B.C., when he was a little over six years of age.

The most eventful occurrence in John's early childhood was the visit, in company with his parents, to [[Jesus]] and the Nazareth family. This visit occurred in the month of June, 1 B.C., when he was a little over six years of age.

Eventually John was executed by King Herod, although not by Herod's wishes.  Herod was throwing a banquet and the daughter of his wife, named [[Salome]] was performing her dance of the seven veils which was meant to appeal to sensual desires.  Herod was so overcome with her presentation that he publicly proclaimed she could have anything she wanted up to half his kingdom.  (The saying was not meant to be taken literally as being able to claim half his kingdom, but was understood in the ancient Mideast as making a vow to honor any one request).  Salome went to her mother to find what to ask, and Herodias had her publicly ask for the head of John the Baptist.  Herod didn't want to have John killed, but had no choice to save face in front of his dinner guests, and so John's head was brought on a platter and Salome then presented it to her mom.  Herod was so spooked by what he had done that when Jesus started performing public miracles, Herod felt it was John who had come back from the dead.

Eventually John was executed by King Herod, although not by Herod's wishes.  Herod was throwing a banquet and the daughter of his wife, named [[Salome]] was performing her dance of the seven veils which was meant to appeal to sensual desires.  Herod was so overcome with her presentation that he publicly proclaimed she could have anything she wanted up to half his kingdom.  (The saying was not meant to be taken literally as being able to claim half his kingdom, but was understood in the ancient Mideast as making a vow to honor any one request).  Salome went to her mother to find what to ask, and Herodias had her publicly ask for the head of John the Baptist.  Herod didn't want to have John killed, but had no choice to save face in front of his dinner guests, and so John's head was brought on a platter and Salome then presented it to her mom.  Herod was so spooked by what he had done that when Jesus started performing public miracles, Herod felt it was John who had come back from the dead.

== See also ==

== See also ==