John the Baptist
The Christmas ball represents a figure of John the Baptist and it is a part of an educational bauble figurine collection called “New Testament”. It is designed to be hung on a Christmas Tree or exposed on a display stand.
Saint John the Baptist is presented with a rod in his hand, a lamb at his feet, and a shell in his palm. The red robe symbolises the martyrdom of Christ and his love.
Attributes
A lamb
The Lamb of God is the title given to Jesus by John the Baptist. It symbolises Christ suffering crucifixion for humanity redemption. It refers to the Jewish Passover during which they used to sacrifice a lamb.
A rod with a scroll with words “Ecce Agnus Dei”
The rod with a scroll relates to a Gospel’s fragment saying: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”- Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi.
A shell
The shell was used to pour water while baptising, preaching and converting people by the saint in the Jordan river.
What do we remember from the life of Saint John:
- his name is John, God is gracious, name given to an angel’s command,
- he and Jesus were relatives thanks to John’s mother- Elizabeth,
- in his youth, he was probably a hermit,
- when he was over 30 years old, he was preaching by the Jordan river,
- his disciples were future Apostles, that is John the Evangelist, Andrew, Simon, and James,
- he was preaching about the need of the inner change and about the coming of God’s Kingdom,
- baptising done by St. John was the symbol of repentance,
- he baptised Jesus Christ and gave him the name Lamb of God,
- he was the last prophet before coming of Jesus,
- he was sentences to death by Herod Antipas, for pointing out the king’s sins.
John the Baptist was the first saint worshipped by the Christian church. He is a patron saint of Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, France, and Austria. He is also a patron saint of monks, shepherds, abstainers, single mothers, and people sentenced to death.
The name John, which means God is gracious,
was given to an angel’s command.
John’s mother, Elizabeth, and Mary of Nazareth were relatives, so accordingly John and Jesus were also relatives.
In his youth John was probably a hermit and when he was over 30 years old, he started converting the wicked by preaching about the love for God.
Among his disciples there were future Apostles- John the Evangelist, Andrew, Simon, and James.
Saint John was preaching about the need of inner change and about the coming of God’s Kingdom.
The symbol of repentance is baptising done by the saint.
Jesus Christ was one of the baptised, and just then Saint John gave him the name Lamb of God.
He was the last prophet before coming of Jesus.
For pointing out sins to the king, he was sentences to death by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great who was responsible for the Massacre of the Innocents.
What does the Bible tell us about Saint John the Baptist:
He is described with words: This is the one about whom it is written: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you [Matthew 11,10].
As a forerunner of Jesus, he preached about the necessity of conversion through repentance and prayers. He also baptised the converted ones in the Jordan River. His words are written in the Gospel:” I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [Matthew 3,11].
He was also the one who baptised Jesus, “and a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” [Mt 3,17].
The words with which John the Baptist introduced Jesus sound on every Mass: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. [John 1,29]
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