Topical Bible: Children: Early Piety of John the Baptist

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John the Baptist, a pivotal figure in the New Testament, is renowned for his role as the forerunner to Jesus Christ. His early piety is a testament to his divine calling and the fulfillment of prophecy. From his conception, John was set apart for a special purpose, as foretold by the angel Gabriel to his father, Zechariah. In Luke 1:15 , it is declared, "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb."

John's early life was marked by a profound sense of purpose and dedication to God. Even before his birth, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, a unique distinction that underscored his divine mission. This early indwelling of the Spirit is evidenced in the account of his mother, Elizabeth, who, upon hearing the greeting of Mary, the mother of Jesus, felt John leap in her womb. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed in Luke 1:44 , "For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy."

Raised in a devout Jewish household, John was nurtured in the ways of the Lord. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were described as "righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord" (Luke 1:6). This environment undoubtedly influenced John's spiritual development and commitment to his prophetic calling.

John's early piety is further illustrated by his lifestyle choices. He lived a life of asceticism, dwelling in the wilderness and subsisting on locusts and wild honey, as described in Matthew 3:4 : "John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey." This austere lifestyle was a physical manifestation of his spiritual dedication and separation from worldly distractions.

The early piety of John the Baptist serves as an example of unwavering devotion and obedience to God's will. His life was a continuous preparation for the ministry he would undertake, calling the people of Israel to repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River. John's early years, marked by holiness and purpose, set the stage for his pivotal role in heralding the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

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Luke 1:15,80
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
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Library

Home-Education.
... To encourage Christian parents to give their children a good ... history, of conversion
and eminent piety in the ... as the direct fruit of early parental instruction. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xvi home-education.htm

General Service to John, Precursor, Prophet and Baptist of the ...
... the children of the desolate than the children of the ... righteous man if he happen
to die early shall be ... the midst of the flame continued their piety, and hast ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter v general service to.htm

Early English Interpreters of Spiritual Religion: John Everard ...
... "It is," he says, "like unto young children, who with ... to add force to his own
presentation of "the duty of propagating piety, charity, and ... Early Series, p.1231 ...
/.../chapter xiii early english interpreters.htm

The Women of the Gospel Narrative the Study of the Early Christian ...
... Timothy owed his early training to his mother Eunice ... wisdom was not justified of
her children, the punctilious ... alive the smouldering embers of piety must, to a ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/i the women of the.htm

Matthew xx. 1, and C.
... not the Profession of being his Children, and his ... repenting at the Preaching of John
the Baptist ... Tillotson's Sermon concerning the Advantages of Early Piety. ...
/.../sermon xviii matthew xx 1.htm

The Second Awakening.
... astonishment did I hear men, women, and children declaring the ... Dr. George A. Baxter,
who made an early visit to ... are now as much noted for their piety and good ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xiv the second awakening.htm

The Labours of John Cennick, 1739-1755.
... As he had a wife and two children dependent on him ... had no right to long for an early
death; and ... zeal, that modest devotion, and that sunny piety, which charmed ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xi the labours of.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... Samuel, that lovely example of early piety, and the judge and ... When the children of
Israel were in danger of being ... to inform him of the birth of John the Baptist ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

At the Marriage Feast
... The Saviour's early miracles strengthened the disciples to stand ... of God, He rebuked
the pretentious piety of the ... He might bring men together as children of one ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 15 at the marriage.htm

The Voice in the Wilderness
... natural endowment, the habits established in early years decide ... hearts of the fathers
to the children, and the ... entertain a high opinion of their piety; now the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 10 the voice in.htm