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- “The Visitation” from Chartres Cathedral, before 1260 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:39-42).
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- “Zacharias Writes Down the Name of His Son” by Domenico Ghirlandaio, fresco 1486-1490, Santa Maria Novella, Florence Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John” (Luke 1:62-63).
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- “Infant Jesus and John the Baptist” by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1600s, Museo del Prado All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him (Luke 1:66).
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- “St. John the Baptist” by Leonardo da Vinci, The Louvre, Paris Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:6-8).
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- “Baptism of Jesus” by He Qi Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:13-14)
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- “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist” by Caravaggio But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison (Luke 3:19-20).
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- “Salome Receiving the Head of John the Baptist” by Bernardino Luini But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter” (Matthew 14:6-8). His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus (Matthew 14:12).
On June 24 we celebrate the life of John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus who preached of the Messiah’s coming.
