John the Baptist: His Birth and Mission while on Earth

In Luke 1:14, Zacharias was told that joy and gladness would come about because of his son, John’s, birth.  He was also told that many people would rejoice at his birth.  Many people would rejoice because, not only was John the Baptist born to prepare the way of the Lord, but his testimony and teachings would help others be prepared to accept the Lord and be a better people.  Zacharias was told of John’s mission before John was born by the angel Gabriel.  This shows that Heavenly Father had foreordained John to this work while he resided here on Earth.  While in the womb, John knew who the Lord was, and who Mary, his mother, was even before birth, leaping in Elisabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:41).  Because of this, Heavenly Father blessed him with the chance to grow and wax strong in spirit (Luke 1:80).  John prepared the way of the Savior, baptizing many and preaching about the Lord for many months, and then he baptized Christ.  His testimony of Christ and of the Gospel, and his faith helped many others come unto Christ and be edified in him.  He wasn’t jealous when people started to follow Christ more than him, because he saw the importance of Christ’s work, and knew that all was how it should be.   I believe that the reason why people would rejoice over John the Baptist is because he was someone who showed strong faith and had an unwavering testimony of the truth.  Many people throughout his lifetime would look up to him, and be thankful for the example he was.  Because of this, great joy and thankfulness would be spread throughout the land, even to this day.  I am so thankful for John the Baptist, and for the example he is, and continues to be today.