Confirmation of the Divinity of Jesus Christ is the Most Important Work of Saint John the Baptist

On 7 January 2013, celebrated the prophet who baptised the Saviour of the world in the waters of the River Jordan, namely Saint John the Baptist.

In the speech delivered at the chapel of “Saint Gregory the Enlightener” of the Patriarchal Residence, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church spoke about Saint John the Baptist, showing that he confirms the fact that Jesus Christ, is “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.

“Saint John the Baptist confirms the fact that Messiah is Jesus Who is baptised in the River Jordan and that He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Saint John the Prophet predicted the Sacrifice of the Saviour at Easter time, when the Jews celebrated eating the lamb as a commemoration of their release from the bondage of Egypt. But here, Christ – the Easter Lamb – which is sacrificed at the Jews’ Easter is the One who releases the people not from the bondage of Egypt, but from the bondage of sin and death. The confirmation of the divinity of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is the most important work of Saint John the Baptist, namely he confessed that Jesus was not a simple human, but the Son of God who was made Man for men’s salvation and that He was the Messiah long awaited”, His Beatitude said.

At the same time, the Patriarch of Romania wished every success and help of God to all the Romanians going by the name of John or of other names related: “We wish all those named Ioan, Ionica, Nelu, Ioana and related names, millions of Romanians, good health, long life, joy and much help of God so that they should be confessors, friends, and servants of Christ for the glory of God, and the joy of the Church.”

The mission of John the Baptist was to announce the forthcoming of Messiah and baptize in the River Jordan those who repented. “Intercessor of the law” and “preacher of repentance”, “adviser and angel”, Saint John the Baptist is the prophet who closes the book of the Old Testament and opens that of the New Testament. The one born by a woman, the symbol of the martyrs and missionaries, remains in the tradition of the Church as the Forerunner of Christ, who introduces the Lamb of God to the world, the Redeemer of the sins of humankind.

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