Was John the Baptist really more important than Jesus?

Question

I have heard them on tv (History Channel) in some episode say that John was more popular than Jesus Christ. How big of a star do you believe John was compared to Jesus? How long did it take for Jesus to gain a suffocate amount of popularity to become who he has in history?

Answer 1

There are also some folks who claim that John the Baptist wrote Revelations.

As to who was the bigger "star"? John does state that he was not worthy to wash Christs feet or to baptize him. However, as a historic figure, John did have great impact.

As to comparing him to impacts on people, IMO, I do not believe there to be a real contest here......

Answer 2

Yes, initially, because John had been preaching for longer, but after his arrest by Herod Antipas, because John criticized Herod's marrying of his late brother's wife, Jesus was able to continue on the preaching circuit and catch up in popularity.

John the Baptist DID NOT write the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine. The Apocalypse was written later in the 1st century AD.

Jesus was not suffocated, he was crucified. Just thought you should know that.

Answer 3

Dear Marshmel, You have to understand the relationship between the two.  John's ministry began before Jesus' ministry and continued up until shortly after Jesus was baptized and spent40 days in the wilderness.  So, although their ministries crossed, John's was primarily before Jesus'.  The Bible tells us that John's ministry was preparatory for Jesus' ministry.  John preached repentance for the remission of sins.  After Jesus began his ministry people were for a while confused by the two two teachers and their relationship to each other.  Each had his own disciples and each his own followers.

But as one answerer pointed out, even John said of his own ministry that he must decrease and Christ increase.  John was beheaded by Herod at the request of Salome.  Jesus ministry then definitely became the larger ministry.  So, in my view, it is irrelevant to talk about whether Jesus or John was more popular.

As to how Jesus "became who he was in history", his popularity didn't really have anything to do with it.  If he had just died, as other teachers had, his teachings would be as lost to us as theirs were.

His place in history is determined by his death on the cross as the sacrifical lamb who takes away the sin of the world and by his resurrection which proved his power over death and over sin (for, says the Bible, the power of sin is death).  

God bless,

Maggie

Answer 4

At the time John the Baptist was alive he was more popular than Jesus his star declined when he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas. John chose to follow the example of previous Hebrew prophets, living austerely, challenging sinful rulers (Herod), calling for repentance, and promising God's justice. Johns followers began to comment to him about Jesus popularity in Acts 18:24 and in John 1:35. Ultimately John the Baptist's ministry was brought to a sudden end was beheaded. John was so famous at that time Herod deeply feared him. Only after John's Imprisonment did Jesus surpass John in popularity.

Answer 5

No, no.  John was not more popular than Jesus.  However, John did start baptizing before Jesus did, so he started off with more followers.  Eventually Jesus did catch up and surpass john, though.

Answer 6

Marshmellow, interesting question.  There's a version of this "other Jesus", "existential Jesus", or "historical Jesus"?  It flies in the face of the Christian Nicene Jesus however.  This other Jesus wasn't into supernatural magic tricks etc.?  No virgin births, or walking on water?  He could 'heal' but it was a mental, psychosomatic power?  John the Baptist wasn't a bigger deal than the Christ.  What JB represented was the ultimate 'religious', 'spiritual', 'supernatural' type ascetic, monastic, self deprecating, unselfish person there was?  The "real Jesus" believed in God, but He didn't believe in supernatural miracle, or any "sacred" scriptures, or any kind of "divine revelation".  The real Christ believed God the Father (Abba); resided in the the hearts and minds of  "secular" and "humanist" beings.  You often here religious people talking about the difference between "man's laws" and "God's laws"??  The real or secular Jesus believed; man's laws, and God's laws, are one and the same!!  

What the Baptist represented, was the perfect, religious, spiritual, man of God, or cleric?  Jesus, recognized this as a worthy mentality?  Jesus deliberately put Himself in juxtaposition with John B.  The real existential secular and historical Jesus was trying to convey this... If you really think that God works outside His own physical laws, with supernatural miracle, and divine intervention and scripture to certain select men, then why aren't you aligned or following the Baptist???  He's the perfect paradigm, of what religious people claim God wants??  Jesus, came eating pork and drinking alcohol etc.  The real Jesus wasn't some monastic, ascetic, sweet thing?  He didn't die for the "all the sins of the world"?  He somehow accepted a cruel death to prove His own existence and beliefs?  In some amazing and unbelievable way, the real Christ went to His miserable death to show everyone, what "religion", and people that claim to "know" God in some "sacred" way; are capable of doing?  It that regard, the real Christ died for the mistakes of mankind?  Jesus used JB, as a counter weight or juxtaposition to his secular existentialism, and purely 'human' God?!!    

Answer 7

Of course, he separated Christianity from Judaism. After John, no one had to get circumcision to become a Christian. That got him a lot of browny points.

(Makes you wonder! At least it should.)