THE WITNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST TO JESUS CHRIST

"John the Baptist emerges as a figure of considerable proportions and importance," (Stonehouse), in Luke's narrative. In fact, "while all the Gospels give prominence to John, Luke contains a number of distinctive features which place the role of John in even sharper focus." - Stonehouse.

Luke emphasizes the striking parallelism in the births of John and of Jesus. "Although only the origin of Jesus is set forth as distinctly miraculous, in virtue of the conception by the Holy Ghost and birth of the Virgin, John's birth is shown to have been no ordinary event. -- ...the child was conceived only as the result of an intervention of divine favor." - Stonehouse.