Are Jesus and John the Baptist Cousins? Unraveling the Intriguing Connection between Two Iconic Figures
The story of John the Baptist and Jesus is a profound mystery. They were both born miraculously – John the Baptist by his elderly parents and Jesus by a Virgin. Based on historical records, they were relatives and may have spent much of their childhood playing together.
The narrative of their intricate relationship is quite captivating as we delve into the biblical testimony about them. The older must diminish and give way to the younger because the younger was before the older. Let’s look into the biblical account and examine both the historical context and theological import of the relationship between these two iconic figures.
Jesus and John the Baptist
In the Bible, both figures are born in a miraculous way. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias, John’s father, and foretells his future son’s role as a herald of the Messiah. Zacharias doubts the words of the archangel and is struck dumb until the time of their fulfillment.
Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:18-20)
Jesus’ miraculous birth was foretold by the same angel when he announced to Mary that she would bear a child from the Holy Spirit. From the Gospel of Matthew, we learn that Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, John’s mother. Some scholars claim that Elizabeth was Mary’s maternal aunt.
The Bible does not explicitly say that John the Baptist and Jesus were “cousins,” but we know for certain that they were related because Mary and Elizabeth were related. When Mary asked Gabriel how she could conceive a child without a husband, Gabriel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing spoken by God is impossible. (Luke 1:35-36)
The Familial Connection
As we look closer at the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, we also trace a potential familial connection between Jesus and John the Baptist. In Matthew, Jesus’ lineage is traced through Joseph, with an emphasis on King David and Jesus’ royal descent. In Luke’s genealogy, Jesus’ descent is traced through Mary with a different line of ancestors.
These genealogies do not entirely match but intersect in one key point – David. Jesus and John the Baptist have a shared lineage, which suggests a familial connection. The Bible doesn’t explicitly mention that they were “cousins,” which adds some ambiguity to the matter.
John the Baptist Testifying About Jesus
The relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus was not limited to familial ties. John knew from his childhood that he had come on a unique mission. He was sent to testify about the Light.
There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)
He knew his mission was to recognize the Messiah when He came and point people to Him. Even though John was gathering his own disciples, he always emphasized that he must diminish so that Christ might increase. He had a unique spiritual role – to prepare people’s hearts for the coming of the Messiah.
One day, when John was baptizing in the Jordan River, it happened. He saw the Messiah and recognized him.
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’” (John 1:29-30)
Even though John was older than Jesus, he recognized that Jesus was “before him.” He testified that the person he was about to baptize was more than a prophet. Jesus had been in the world before him.
Priests and Levites pressed John with questions, “Who are you?” “Are you Elijah?” and “Are you the prophet?”
But he identified himself in a very strange way,
I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said. (John 1:23)
John was preaching repentance because it’s the only way to prepare one’s heart for the coming of the Messiah. It’s impossible to recognize the Messiah with a proud heart. Quoting Isaiah, John used to say,
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. (Luke 3:5)
The Spiritual Bond Between Jesus and John the Baptist
John was connected to Jesus with more than family bonds. He was his “brother” in the Spirit. He knew that without true repentance, no one could accept Jesus. Walking around Judea, he preached repentance, using the words of the prophet Isaiah,
The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
He would sternly rebuke the Pharisees who thought too highly of themselves. He even called them “the brood of vipers.” He admonished them to bring fruit in keeping with repentance. In other words, show your repentance in how you act, not just by wearing fine clothes and praying loudly in public. Hypocrites cannot approach God because they seek the praise of men.
The Pharisees and Sadducees thought too highly of themselves. In Matthew 3:8, John exhorted them not to boast about their descent from Abraham because “God can raise up children for Abraham out of stones.”
On the other hand, every valley should be filled in. In other words, those who are poor in spirit should not dwell on their low position in life but rejoice, for “the Kingdom of God is near.” With these words, John encouraged the poor and destitute not to lose hope but to prepare their hearts to be filled up by the grace of the Lord.
“I must diminish so He might increase.”
John was often asked if he was the Messiah, and he would repeatedly say that he was not.
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:15-16)
When you have so many people flocking to you and listening to you, it’s tempting to think too highly of yourself. Yet, John knew why God called him. He was sent to testify about the Light. He emphasized that his mission was to preach repentance and baptize in water. Then, the true Light would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
This was a reference to the Pentecost when tongues of fire rested on the apostles, and they spoke in different tongues, reversing the curse of Babel.
John understood that only Jesus could send the Holy Spirit into people’s hearts and bring about true transformation from the inside out.
Why Did John Baptize Jesus?
At first, John hesitated whether he should baptize Jesus. He understood perfectly well who stood before him. But Jesus explained why it should be done:
But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. (Matthew 3:14-15)
It was only right for Jesus to humble himself to be baptized by John as a sign of humility. The Son of God willingly laid down his divinity to become one of us. He didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped but emptied himself on our behalf by embracing our humanity and dying on the cross.
Who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
The Son of God came down on earth in full obedience to the Father’s will and humbled himself for our sake. That’s why it was fitting for Him to be baptized by John.
The Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World
John himself said that the reason he came baptizing in water was so that the Son of Man could be revealed to Israel. It was important for Jesus to be recognized, saying repeatedly, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Jesus didn’t want to be a self-proclaimed King. He wanted to be recognized by Israel.
Yet, as John the Evangelist says,
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. (John 1:10)
Jesus came to His own, but they didn’t receive Him. And to those who did, He gave the right to become God’s children. John’s work was to prepare the way for Jesus so He would be recognized. A hardened heart cannot recognize God. A haughty spirit cannot receive God. It takes humility to recognize your need for God.
Those who saw this need in themselves flocked to Jesus and recognized Him as the Messiah. That’s why Jesus said,
Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. (Luke 5:31)
So, John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” And then, a miracle happened. He saw the heavens open, and the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove and alighted on Jesus. For John, it was the final confirmation of Jesus’ divine status. He testified,
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
It was important for people to hear John’s testimony. They were standing there in expectation, wondering if John might be the Messiah. They were like sheep without a shepherd, and John proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom to them. To those whose hearts were hardened by self-righteousness, he gave a strict warning,
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Luke 3:17)
And to those who were thirsty for the Word of God, he gave encouragement and hope.
John Remains Faithful to the End
John kept testifying about Jesus to the very end. One day, Herod threw him in prison for reproving his marrying Herodias, his brother Phillip’s wife. John had told him in the face that it was unlawful for him to divorce his wife and take Herodias.
Despite his anger, Herod was afraid to kill John because people honored him as a prophet. But Herodias came up with a cruel plan. She had her daughter dance before Herod and his guests, and she pleased them so much that Herod promised with an oath to give her anything she desired. Prompted by her mother, she said,
Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer. (Matthew 14:8)
So, John was beheaded in prison. He remained faithful to the end and testified about the Light to those who were in darkness, even as Isaiah says,
The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. (Isaiah 9:2)
Jesus Deeply Cared About John the Baptist
Jesus felt a deep spiritual and familial connection to John. John had his moments of doubt, especially in prison. Your faith might be strong one day, but the next day, everything suddenly changes, and you are swept away by fear and doubt.
As John sat in prison, he wondered if the signs he had seen were real. So, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask,
Are you he who comes, or should we look for another? (Matthew 11:3)
Jesus doesn’t respond directly, as is His habit. He cares about John deeply and wants him to see what is obvious,
Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (Matthew 11:4-5)
Jesus knew that John needed strong evidence, not just words. So, Jesus gave John undeniable proof of his Messianic powers. It was more than obvious that Jesus fulfilled exactly what had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah. Jesus strengthened John’s heart so he could accept his lot bravely.
John’s mission was to testify about the Light, but John himself needed Jesus. He knew his need, and he knew who could meet it. His life was a gradual fulfillment of his own words,
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
He pointed to the Light and then stepped out of the way so as not to be a stumbling block to anyone.
