Why Did John the Baptist Live in the Wilderness? What Was He Doing?

FIRESTORM314 · Mar 9, 2018

I'd take a pot shot that John's cloak was Elijah's mantle which was also passed on to Elisha. John's father was a priest in the Temple so there's a chance he could have picked it up there.

The desert is possibly a harsh place where the men of god learn to rely on God and sharpen their spiritual gifts and spiritual vision. Just a wild guess

I'd also be interested in John's Baptism - did he dunk the people in the Jordan seven times? Symbolic of immersion in the spirit. ( see 2 Kings chapter 5 )

Mountainmanbob · Mar 9, 2018

mark kennedy said:
Yea, heard that. Someone has pointed out that the locusts and honey were actually pretty nutritious.

We have four beehives here on our acre of land and I would not mind some cooked crispy Locust dipped into honey that sounds pretty good kind of like a sweet crunchy french fry. But, I'm sure much better for you.
M-Bob

mark kennedy · Mar 9, 2018

Mountainmanbob said:
We have four beehives here on our acre of land and I would not mind some cooked crispy Locust dipped into honey that sounds pretty good kind of like a sweet crunchy french fry. But, I'm sure much better for you.
M-Bob

I'm going to have to take your word for it, french fried locusts dipped in honey might be delicious and nutritious but I doubt it will replace McDonald's fries any time soon. Perhaps it should.

dqhall · Mar 9, 2018

Deadworm said:
Scholars recognize the genuine possibility that John the Baptist lived in the desert with the Qumran Essenes for several years. There are striking parallels between the Essene ideology and lifestyle and John's, most notably their objections to the Jerusalem Temple's system of forgiveness through sacrifice. John's baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins can be viewed as a rival ritual to secure divine pardon and and ritual ablutions were a standard feature of Qumran praxis.

And as has been noted, John's Elijah ministry may also have been a factor in his wilderness period.

John was probably baptizing along the Jordan River.
John 3:23 (WEB) John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.

John may have been able to avoid some persecution by hiding in the wilderness until Herod had him arrested after John was telling people Herod was sinning by marrying his brother Philip's wife, (Luke 3:19, see also Flavius Josephus, Antiquities).

The first century Essenes are credited with writing the Dead Sea Scrolls and occupying Qumran. According to Josephus, they abstained from marriage. They did not partake in the temple sacrifices. They offered their own sacrifices.
Josephus on the Essenes - Wikiquote

The Temple Scroll found at Qumran indicated the Essenes rejected the temple priests as illegitimate. At Qumran National Park there is theater where they showed a film to American tourists that suggests John the Baptist may have met the Essenes. Qumran is in the desert near the Dead Sea.

dreadnought · Mar 9, 2018

WilliamBo said:
Jesus basically said that John the Baptist was the most righteous man to ever live... and he lived in the wilderness, eating insects and wearing minimal clothing. But why?

My guess is that he was staying away from all worldly distractions at all costs so that he could be completely focused on God and not be influenced by the sinful societies of the world... because he feared God and how holy He is.

Anyone have any other ideas why John the Baptist lived the way he did? In the wilderness eating locusts and honey, wearing camel hair and a leather belt?

Off the top of my head, peace isn't derived from worldly pleasures. John must have found peace in the wilderness. I suspect the Lord led him there.

Devin P · Mar 9, 2018

WilliamBo said:
Wow, i didnt know that about Isaiah. I never considered John the Baptist a "prophet", more like a one-time figure to introduce Jesus to the world. It doesn't say he was wearing sackcloth, just very minimal stuff, but I get what your saying. Interesting.

John was considered a prophet because he prophesied of Jesus's coming. That, and he wrote the entire book of revelations because of the prophesy that Jesus gave him in the spirit. He prophesied about the trials the apostles would go through, as well as us, and even of things in heaven.

Marvin Knox · Mar 9, 2018

Devin P said:
John was considered a prophet because he prophesied of Jesus's coming. That, and he wrote the entire book of revelations because of the prophesy that Jesus gave him in the spirit. He prophesied about the trials the apostles would go through, as well as us, and even of things in heaven.

Actually you've got John mixed up with John.

John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus and Elijah returned to the earth.

Not to be conflated with the Apostle John the writer of Revelation.

mark kennedy · Mar 9, 2018

Marvin Knox said:
Actually you've got John mixed up with John.

John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus and Elijah returned to the earth.

Not to be conflated with the Apostle John the writer of Revelation.

I think he is putting you on.

Marvin Knox · Mar 9, 2018

mark kennedy said:
I think he is putting you on.

Could be.

mark kennedy · Mar 9, 2018

Marvin Knox said:
Could be.

Seen this before, there is nothing backing it up, I really think he is putting you on. Just my opinion.

mukk_in · Mar 9, 2018

WilliamBo said:
Jesus basically said that John the Baptist was the most righteous man to ever live... and he lived in the wilderness, eating insects and wearing minimal clothing. But why?

My guess is that he was staying away from all worldly distractions at all costs so that he could be completely focused on God and not be influenced by the sinful societies of the world... because he feared God and how holy He is.

Anyone have any other ideas why John the Baptist lived the way he did? In the wilderness eating locusts and honey, wearing camel hair and a leather belt?

Most likely. The Apostle Paul also went alone into the Arabian desert to be taught by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1:16). Peace in Christ.

DominicBaptiste · Mar 10, 2018

WilliamBo said:
Jesus basically said that John the Baptist was the most righteous man to ever live... and he lived in the wilderness, eating insects and wearing minimal clothing. But why?

My guess is that he was staying away from all worldly distractions at all costs so that he could be completely focused on God and not be influenced by the sinful societies of the world... because he feared God and how holy He is.

Anyone have any other ideas why John the Baptist lived the way he did? In the wilderness eating locusts and honey, wearing camel hair and a leather belt?

I don't really know that much about it, but I think John the Baptist was the holder of the office of Elijah. The Jews pray during the Passover Seder for Elijah to return. You're supposed to pour an extra glass of wine and open the door to your house so that he will be invited in. I used to be into celebrating Passover. When John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah, it fulfilled what the Jews pray for, and then he baptized Jesus so that God would show him as "Son of God." I guess John had a very specific role to play in life, so it didn't really matter what else he did with his time as long as he baptized Jesus. I think John was also a preacher. Made me think of this song:

DominicBaptiste · Mar 10, 2018

mukk_in said:
Most likely. The Apostle Paul also went alone into the Arabian desert to be taught by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1:16). Peace in Christ.

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit is what Jesus sent back to his followers after he was resurrected so that they would still have their leader in spirit form. That makes me doubt that John was taught by the Holy Spirit before the descent of the Holy Spirit had happened.

mukk_in · Mar 10, 2018

DominicBaptiste said:
My understanding is that the Holy Spirit is what Jesus sent back to his followers after he was resurrected so that they would still have their leader in spirit form. That makes me doubt that John was taught by the Holy Spirit before the descent of the Holy Spirit had happened.

Not John, but the Apostle Paul as mentioned clearly in my initial response. He also went into the wilderness like John the Baptist. Maybe the "also" was confusing. It was only to refer to his wilderness experience which was similar to John's.

DominicBaptiste · Mar 10, 2018

mukk_in said:
Not John, but the Apostle Paul as mentioned clearly in my initial response.

It wasn't clear to me, but I'm going to give you a winner since I'm a good sport.

Wet Squirrel · Mar 10, 2018

Marvin Knox said:
Actually you've got John mixed up with John.

John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus and Elijah returned to the earth.

Not to be conflated with the Apostle John the writer of Revelation.

John said he was not Eljah

DominicBaptiste · Mar 10, 2018

Wet Squirrel said:
John said he was not Eljah

Not literal him but acting in place of. I looked up this passage:
Luke 1:13 - 1:17
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 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.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

(Elias and Elijah are the same name.)

DominicBaptiste · Mar 10, 2018

mukk_in said:
Not John, but the Apostle Paul as mentioned clearly in my initial response. He also went into the wilderness like John the Baptist. Maybe the "also" was confusing. It was only to refer to his wilderness experience which was similar to John's.

Apparently John was born with the Holy Spirit, and I didn't know it. I posted a passage from Luke above that I didn't remember reading.

mukk_in · Mar 10, 2018

DominicBaptiste said:
Apparently John was born with the Holy Spirit, and I didn't know it. I posted a passage from Luke above that I didn't remember reading.

Indeed. The Holy Spirit was operating even in the Old Testament. A classic example would be Saul (1 Samuel 10:10). The mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28) happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13).

DamianWarS · Mar 10, 2018

WilliamBo said:
Anyone have any other ideas why John the Baptist lived the way he did? In the wilderness eating locusts and honey, wearing camel hair and a leather belt?

perhaps he was an Essene

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