--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do…" description: "\"“John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do to this very day, as an unyielding presence unsettling us and leaving us not quite sure of how we feel about ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2f/eugene-kennedy-28170_baptist_john-the-baptist-stands-as-prophets-do-t_1403057.png" --- # John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do to this very day… ![“John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do to this very day, as an unyielding presence unsettling us and leaving us not quite sure of how we feel about him. ... And yet John seems hard to know, hard to like even though we stand back in admiration of him. We react the same way to most absolute figured.” quote by Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2f/eugene-kennedy-28170_baptist_john-the-baptist-stands-as-prophets-do-t_1403057.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2f/eugene-kennedy-28170_baptist_john-the-baptist-stands-as-prophets-do-t_1403057.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2f/eugene-kennedy-28170_baptist_john-the-baptist-stands-as-prophets-do-t_1403057.png) > ““John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do to this very day, as an unyielding presence unsettling us and leaving us not quite sure of how we feel about him. ... And yet John seems hard to know, hard to like even though we stand back in admiration of him. We react the same way to most absolute figured.”” [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prophetic figures challenge comfort zones, provoking mixed feelings of admiration and unease. **In simple terms:** Prophets unsettle us. Key Takeaway Accept discomfort from challenging ideas. Themes faith challenge human nature Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - religious discourse - political critique - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology spirituality leadership Questions to Reflect On - Why do we resist unsettling truths? - How can we balance admiration with critical thinking? A Different Perspective Their impact can be polarizing, leading to division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baptist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baptist/) [John the baptist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-the-baptist/) [Prophets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophets/) ## Related quotes > [John the Baptist was supposed to point the way to the Christ. He was just the voice, not the Messiah. So everybodys calling has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/john-the-baptist-was-supposed-to-point-the-way-to-the-christ-he-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [John the Baptist never performed any miracles. Yet, he was greater than any of the Old Testament prophets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/john-the-baptist-never-performed-any-miracles-yet-he-was-greater-than/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“Dear church, John the baptist died for exposing the sins of others. Jesus died to actually pay for the sins of others. John was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-a-rodriguez/dear-church-john-the-baptist-died-for-exposing-the-sins-of-others/) [Carlos A. Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-a-rodriguez/) > [It is not the business of religion in these days to isolate herself from the world like John the Baptist. She must go down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-reginald-haweis/it-is-not-the-business-of-religion-in-these-days-to-isolate-herself/) [Hugh Reginald Haweis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-reginald-haweis/) > [John the Baptist, who we are told was related by blood to Jesus, was preaching the impending judgement of God, urging repentance and moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/john-the-baptist-who-we-are-told-was-related-by-blood-to-jesus-was/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [Three more saves and he ties John the Baptist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-greenwald/three-more-saves-and-he-ties-john-the-baptist/) Hank Greenwald > [The first Rotarian was the first man to call John the Baptist Jack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-first-rotarian-was-the-first-man-to-call-john-the-baptist-jack/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Can it be possible that the painters make John the Baptist a Spaniard in Madrid and an Irishman in Dublin?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/can-it-be-possible-that-the-painters-make-john-the-baptist-a-spaniard/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Heaven knows that John the Baptist was not more eager to get all his fellow sinners into the Jordan than I to baptize all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/heaven-knows-that-john-the-baptist-was-not-more-eager-to-get-all-his/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [I always wanted to be Robin Hood or John the Baptist when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/i-always-wanted-to-be-robin-hood-or-john-the-baptist-when-i-was/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [Whatever our creed, we stand with admiration before the sublime character of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/whatever-our-creed-we-stand-with-admiration-before-the-sublime/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature's loveliness. Heaven knows that John the Baptist was not more eager to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-care-to-live-only-to-entice-people-to-look-at-nature-s-loveliness-2/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“echoing John the Baptist’s cry: ‘the kingdom of heaven is near’ (Matthew 3:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/echoing-john-the-baptist-s-cry-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-near-matthew-3/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“John the Baptist wore rough clothes woven from camel's hair and a leather belt. He ate dried grasshoppers and wild honey from the trees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-partner/john-the-baptist-wore-rough-clothes-woven-from-camel-s-hair-and-a/) [Daniel Partner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-partner/) > [“Every great movement needs an agitator. Every leader of spiritual ideals need a John the Baptist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/every-great-movement-needs-an-agitator-every-leader-of-spiritual/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) ## More by Eugene Kennedy > [The future is religion and commerce, aphrodisiac and Benzedrine, a mother of mysterious comfort and a mistress of familiar ravishments ever on the verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-future-is-religion-and-commerce-aphrodisiac-and-benzedrine-a/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [“To be human is nothing less than to be caught in the great congested pilgrimage of existence and to join ourselves freely to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/to-be-human-is-nothing-less-than-to-be-caught-in-the-great-congested/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Is childhood ever long enough, or a happy time, or even a beautiful summer day? All of these carry the seeds of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/is-childhood-ever-long-enough-or-a-happy-time-or-even-a-beautiful/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [“Countless human beings wear masks which they hope will cover up what they dislike about themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/countless-human-beings-wear-masks-which-they-hope-will-cover-up-what/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [“(re: Matthew 7:21 - "Knowing the correct password - saying 'Master, Master', for instance - isn't going to get you anywhere with Me. What's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/re-matthew-7-21-knowing-the-correct-password-saying-master-master-for/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [The real test of friendship is: Can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy together those moments of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-real-test-of-friendship-is-can-you-literally-do-nothing-with-the/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [There are times when silence is the most sacred of responses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/there-are-times-when-silence-is-the-most-sacred-of-responses/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/can-you-enjoy-those-moments-of-life-that-are-utterly-simple/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Death is by no means separate from life. . . . We all interact with death every day, tasting it as we might a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/death-is-by-no-means-separate-from-life-we-all-interact-with-death/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Life does not hurt nearly as much if we have learned to listen to ourselves and to recognize how fully and richly we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/life-does-not-hurt-nearly-as-much-if-we-have-learned-to-listen-to/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [The real test of friendship is can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-real-test-of-friendship-is-can-you-literally-do-nothing-with-the-2/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Mercy is a source of life because we breathe our own spirits through it into the lives of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/mercy-is-a-source-of-life-because-we-breathe-our-own-spirits-through/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [“(re: Matthew 4) " 'Give in for now': what a strange thing for Jesus to say to a steadfast and protesting prophet; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/re-matthew-4-give-in-for-now-what-a-strange-thing-for-jesus-to-say-to/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [There is a silence that matches our best possibilities when we have learned to listen to others. We can master the art of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/there-is-a-silence-that-matches-our-best-possibilities-when-we-have/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [The moment an individual can accept and forgive him or herself, even a little, is the moment in which he or she becomes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-moment-an-individual-can-accept-and-forgive-him-or-herself-even-a/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) [Explore all 19 Eugene Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) ## More Baptist quotes > [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [“Every great movement needs an agitator. Every leader of spiritual ideals need a John the Baptist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/every-great-movement-needs-an-agitator-every-leader-of-spiritual/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) > [I grew up in a Southern Baptist-style church with a choir, a band, and music, but I've been asking myself my whole life, 'Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-grew-up-in-a-southern-baptist-style-church-with-a-choir-a-band-and/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [John the Baptist never performed any miracles. Yet, he was greater than any of the Old Testament prophets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/john-the-baptist-never-performed-any-miracles-yet-he-was-greater-than/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Perhaps we should worry less about judging people for being Mormon or Baptist or Muslim or gay or straight or black or white or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charity-sunshine-tillemann-dick/perhaps-we-should-worry-less-about-judging-people-for-being-mormon-or/) [Charity Sunshine Tillemann-Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charity-sunshine-tillemann-dick/) > [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [A Roman Catholic worships a god who speaks through the Pope, while a Baptist worships a god who does not. They cannot be worshipping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hayes/a-roman-catholic-worships-a-god-who-speaks-through-the-pope-while-a/) [Judith Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hayes/) > [I am a former newspaper reporter turned church secretary turned vampire novelist. I wrote my first complete novel, 'Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs,' at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-am-a-former-newspaper-reporter-turned-church-secretary-turned/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [“The Baptist teaching that all are equal in the sight of God seemed to run right up against the notion that any human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-himes/the-baptist-teaching-that-all-are-equal-in-the-sight-of-god-seemed-to/) [Andrew Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-himes/) > [I was raised in a working class family of Baptist faith, and I went to college on a church scholarship where early teachings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-was-raised-in-a-working-class-family-of-baptist-faith-and-i-went-to/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [“John the Baptist wore rough clothes woven from camel's hair and a leather belt. He ate dried grasshoppers and wild honey from the trees.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-partner/john-the-baptist-wore-rough-clothes-woven-from-camel-s-hair-and-a/) [Daniel Partner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-partner/) > [For years, my mom dated a man who was really active in the Baptist church in the town next to the town I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/for-years-my-mom-dated-a-man-who-was-really-active-in-the-baptist/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“Yeah his being Sumerian to this group would go over like an Ozzy Osbourne/Marilyn Manson duet at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/yeah-his-being-sumerian-to-this-group-would-go-over-like-an-ozzy/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I have my own religion. I'm sort of one-quarter Baptist, one-quarter Catholic, one-quarter Jewish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/i-have-my-own-religion-i-m-sort-of-one-quarter-baptist-one-quarter/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [We went to Baptist church as a family, and that took up so many nights a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/we-went-to-baptist-church-as-a-family-and-that-took-up-so-many-nights/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) [Browse all 120 Baptist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baptist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“John (the Baptist) stands as prophets do to this very day, as an unyielding presence unsettling us and leaving us not quite sure of how we feel about him. ... And yet John seems hard to know, hard to like even though we stand back in admiration of him. 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