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The study on Grace helped me recognize the very close relationship of John the Baptist and Jesus when I was praying with the Rosary.
Jesus visited John the Baptist before He began his public ministry. He requested John to baptize Him. John was shocked! He refused "but Jesus answered him, 'Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness (Mt3:15).'" Jesus not only endorsed the work of John but added His Grace. Subsequently John saw that both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Father were witnessing for Jesus. That was the first time the Trinity revealed Themselves together. What a privilege for John! And what grace was it for him!
Then I recalled the mystery of Visitation, the first encounter between John the Baptist and Jesus. Just a few days on earth, Jesus urged His mother to visit Elizabeth through the Holy Spirit. Mother Mary might be going for the sake of charity in serving Elizabeth. The objective of Jesus was to bring grace to John and Elizabeth to fulfill Archangel Gabriel's prophecy (Cf. Lk1:15). Subsequently, "when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit (Lk1:41)." John leaped before Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit: John was the first to receive the Grace coming from Jesus. He was filled with Grace at Elizabeth's womb.
Both visits were initiated by Jesus and occurred at significant moments. The first time was shortly after the Word became flesh and the second time was when Jesus was about to start His public ministry.
The response of John the Baptist to the Grace he received had been extraordinary. "The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel (Lk2:80)." Matthew echoed, "now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey (Mt3:4)." John lived a very stringent life to prepare himself to be the forerunner of Jesus.
When the time came, John the Baptist "went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk3:3)." "Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by in the river Jordan, confessing their sins (Mt3:5-6)." He was courageous in rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees who 'came for baptism, he told them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance (Mt3:7-8)."' Later, John was put into prison because of rebuking Herod the ruler who married his brother's wife. John performed his role diligently and courageously.
John the Baptist fully recognized his humble position. When being asked whether he was the Messiah, he answered, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk3:16)." When being asked about Jesus, John said, "He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease (Jn3:29-30)." He said what he meant, he handed his disciples to Jesus.
John the Baptist died for the sake of justice. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt5:10)." John, who is filled with grace, please prays for us!
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