1. The Essenes and the origins of John the Baptist The Essenes were an ascetic religious community that flourished for about 200 years around the time of Jesus. They are first noted by Josephus in the time of Jonathan the Maccabee at about 150 BC. They are not mentioned in historical accounts after the destruction of the temple in 60 AD. The best way that I understand the Essenes is to consider them a reaction against the Seleucid occupation of Palestine. Rather than adopt some Greek practice (like Sadducees) or openly rebel against Greeks (like Zealots) or live separate lives but among the Greeks (like Pharisees), the Essenes left the cities and dwelled in the wilderness. Like the community in Qumran, Essenes lived physically separated from Greek society. They also separated themselves comfort-wise from Greek culture, displaying strong ascetic practices. Essenes held much in common with Pharisees, but added several peculiar practices. It is these practices peculiar to Essenes that suggest John the Baptist may have been a member of an Essene community. I will list six parallels between John the Baptist and members of Qumran Essenes. First, John's home was in the wilderness. The wilderness was also the home ground of Essenes. Second, John wore a coat of camel's hair and a simple leather loincloth. This appears to match the rough clothing of Essenes. Third, John ate locusts and wild honey. Although this diet does not match Essene community food, the food itself is not contrary to Essene custom. Fourth, John had a rough appearing countenance. Essenes did not clean the face with oil. Fifth, John was a baptiser. In other words he ritually immersed people in water. The Essenes were noted for taking daily ritual baths. Sixth, John's message was one of self-denial, repentance, non-violence, and sharing. This message was similar to the Essene practice and message. It does indeed appear likely that John the Baptist spent many years in an Essene community. At the time of his ministry however, John could not have been a practicing Essene. First of all, the Essenes were emphatically a people of community. Without exception they ate together, worked together and shared all things in common. Second, unlike John, Essenes never sought out converts. Seekers came to them for admittance to community; and acceptance was difficult. Finally, Essenes ate ritualistically with food blessed by a priest. His father, Zacharias, may have given John to be raised as an Essene, but by the time he began baptizing, he transitioned to an independent "voice crying in the wilderness". 2.a. John's personality John's personality is never described with an adjective, but we can discern his personality through his words and actions. He was blunt. On first meeting the Pharisees he called them "a generation of vipers". He was bold. When hearing about the illegal marriage of Herod, he reproved Queen Herodias openly. He was firm. He sat in prison rather than retract his statement about Herod and Herodias. He was charismatic. He gathered followers by the score from all areas of Judea and from all classes of people. He was insightful. Upon seeing Jesus at a distance, he said "Behold the Son of God". He was humble. After meeting Jesus he said that he was unworthy to unlatch Jesus' sandals. He was careful. Before proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, he sent his own followers to check him out. He was nonjudgmental. He baptized tax-collectors and other notorious sinners. He was honest. He said, "I am not the Christ." He was holy above all. Before his birth, John was singled out to be a special messenger from God. 2b. John's understanding of right relationship with God John the Baptist was a prophet in the mould of Old Testament prophets. He was so recognized by the people and so called by Jesus. Indeed, John is constantly compared to Elijah. An Old Testament prophet was an intermediary between God and His people. John did what all prophets do. He called people to repentance and to right living. John preached a "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". He preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand. It appears that honest seekers would present themselves to John. If they repented of their sin, then John would baptize them. After baptism, they would be remitted of sin. John's disciples were then expected to live holy lives in accordance with the law of Moses. John did not appear to have a complete theology in regard to right relationship with God. However, John recognized this shortcoming and literally pointed his own disciples to the direction of Jesus. In Acts 18:26, Aquila and Priscilla do not say that the understanding of John the Baptist is "in error", but they expound to Apollos "the way of God more perfectly" through the baptism of Jesus Christ. 2c. John's self-awareness of his call and his ministry John the Baptist was certainly aware of his call and his ministry. I am confident that the miraculous facts surrounding his birth were passed on to him. From the beginning of his ministry, he distinguished between his own baptism and the baptism of the messiah who would follow. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance;… He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Matthew 3:11)." He saw his role as that of "Elijah". He recognized himself as the herald, but Jesus as king. The most telling words, I believe, are found in John 3:30. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John knew exactly who he was and what role he played in God's unfolding plan of salvation. 3. The influence of John the Baptist in the Jewish Mediterranean word The influence of John the Baptist grew beyond the borders of Palestine. I believe that John's wide-spread influence is one of those providential "fullness of time" circumstances. God not only prepared the way for Jesus with the ministry of John in the wilderness. Amazingly, He also prepared the way for the apostles with a fellowship of John followers throughout the Mediterranean world. During the Persian period and after, communities of Jews established themselves over the entire known world. There soon grew to be synagogues in every major Greek city. These synagogues attracted pagan Greeks who were drawn to the One God of the Hebrews. These seeking Greeks as wells as diaspora Jews became some of the first apostolic converts. These same Jews and Greeks also learned of the late great John the Baptist. Followers of John, such as Apollos of Alexandria, were predisposed to the Gospel of Christ and were natural converts for the apostles. The story related in Acts 18:24 through 19:7 tells of the three steps in Apollo's conversion: instructed in the way of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John, baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. Through this study, I learned that John the Baptist "made straight the way of the Lord", not only in Judea during the life time of Jesus, but also throughout the Greek world during the time of the apostles.
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