John The Baptist; Jesus Son of John and Mary: Part 03 Page 19

Jesus' testimony of John:

"For this is he of whom it is written, behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" Matt. 11:10

Name: Yahya or John is the name of the Prophet who appeared before Jesus to serve as his harbinger in fulfillment of biblical prophecy (Mal. 3: 1 & 4:5)

The Hebrew form is Yuhanna which in that language means, God has been gracious (Enc. Brit.)

The name Yahya was given by God Himself.

Com. # 406 by Bashir Ahmad.

Parentage: Zacharias and Elizabeth. (Luke 1:5)

Ancestry: Zacharias was a direct descendant of David, of the tribe of Judah of the house of Jacob; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth (Luke 1:5)

His Parents: And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. ... 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. (Luke 1:6,7,13)

God's intervention: Fear not Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb. And he shall go before him in the power and spirit of Elias. (Luke 1:13,17)

His Birth: And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying what manner of a child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:65)

Spiritual Rank:

(a.)	He was Prophet of the Highest; (Luke 1:76)
(b.)	horn of salvation in David's house; (Luke-1:69)
(c.)	John was Elias in reality. Mark 6:15; 8:28; Luke 1:17; Matt 11:14. John in person fulfilled scriptural prophesies of '*Elias which was for to come' (Matt 11:14*).
(d.)	God's vicegerent (the word of God came unto him) so by Jewish Law he was God on earth. (Psalms 82:6)
(e.)	By God's authority he was empowered to perform the rites of Baptism;
(f.)	He baptized Jesus;
(g.)	He was given the Book
(h.)	Was from the "Seed of David"

His Mission: Isaiah 40:3 "As it is written in the words of Isaiah, the voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare ye the way of the Lord." (Luke 3:4)

Jesus' testimony of John:

"A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." He was not only 'the prophet of the Highest'. He was more. In the power and spirit of Elias, John was high and a power. He was Power of the Highest.

Who overshadowed Mary? : The power of the Highest! (Luke 1:76)

The Power of the Highest

Jesus' testimony of John: "I am the son of God" meaning by his interpretation that he is the son of 'he unto whom the word of God came,' in that time and place that Jesus was born into.(John 10:35 & Psalms-82:6)

"... the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias".

John:

(a).		Prepared the Way
(b).		was Power of the Highest
(c).		the *God (father)* of Jesus.

The Qur'an testifies to the greatness of John (Qur'an 19:2-12)

2.		(This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His Servant Zakariya.
3.		Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret
4.		Praying: "O my Lord! infirm indeed are my bones and the hair of my head doth glisten with grey: but never am I unblest O my Lord in my prayer to Thee!
5.		"Now I fear (what) my relatives (and colleagues) (will do) after me: but my wife is barren: so give me an heir as from Thyself
6.		"(One that) will (truly) represent me and represent the posterity of Jacob; and make him O my Lord! one with whom Thou art well-pleased!"
7.		(His prayer was answered): "O Zakariya! We give thee good news of a son: his name shall be Yahya [John - Lit. Possessing Life]: on none by that name have We conferred distinction before."
8.		He said: "O my Lord! how shall I have a son when my wife is barren and I have grown quite decrepit from old age?"
9.		He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith `That is easy for Me: I did indeed create thee before when thou hadst been nothing!' "
10.		(Zakariya) said "O my Lord! give me a Sign." "Thy Sign" was the answer "shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three nights although thou art not dumb."
11.		So Zakariya came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate Allah's praises in the morning and in the evening.
12.		(To his son came the command): "O Yahya! [John] take hold of the Book with might": and We gave him wisdom even as a youth.
13.		And pity (for all creatures) as from Us and purity: he was devout
14		. And kind to his parents and he was not overbearing or rebellious.
15.		So Peace on him the day he was born the day that he dies and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)!

John is elevated in his position as apposed to what is speculated of him. Allah (God, The Almighty) says that he was not overbearing, nor was he rebellious and Peace be on him the day he was born and the day he dies.

This suggests that John was not a mad man preaching in the wild and was raised to great spiritual eminence.