“The Greatest Born of Women” – A Spiritual talk on St John the Baptist

On the evening of Tuesday the 27th of August, the St George Bible study group was blessed to be joined by Fr John Daher for a discussion on St John the Baptist – the Greatest Born of Women. This was an enlightening and timely talk, in anticipation of the Feast of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, which is commemorated on the 29th of August.

Fr John started by providing an overview of St John’s life and mission as recorded in scripture. He detailed the birth of St John and his first prophetic act – when he leaped in his mother’s womb. Fr John proceeded to discuss St John’s upbringing in the wilderness after fleeing from Herod, and his life of asceticism that followed. In fact, St John wore camel hair (as seen in his icon) as a symbol of public repentance for his people. St John’s entire ministry is focused on teaching repentance and ethics.

One of St John’s roles was Baptiser and he baptised many including Christ himself. Fr John explained how this was different to the baptism with the Holy Spirit, with a reference to scripture: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11). It is for this reason, among others, that St John is most commonly referred to as the “Forerunner” in the Orthodox tradition.

In his life, St John spoke truth and lived a life of integrity. It was this truth that lead to his imprisonment and ultimately his death. Fr John concluded the talk by summarising why St John is in fact the greatest born of women – namely, in that he was the forerunner, the seal of all the prophets, lead of life of holiness and asceticism and died as a martyr and witness to Christ. Christ even stated this Himself when He says in Matthew 11:11, “Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist”.

Thank you Father John for sharing such an edifying talk with us. May the life of St John the Forerunner continue to inspire us to lead of life of truth and holiness.