John the Baptist

It depends upon which Joseph. If it is Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary, then almost certainly.

We are told that Elizabeth was the wife of Zechariah (not Zachary as you suggested), and we are also told in Luke Ch 1 that Elizabeth was a 'relative' (probably a cousin) of the Virgin Mary, the wife of Joseph.

In a society where family bonds were much greater than today, it is inconceivable, therefore, that Zechariah and Josepg were not known to each other.

If, on the other hand, you mean Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb in which Jesus was laid, and from which Jesus resurrected, then almost certainly Joseph did not know Zechariah. When John the Baptist was born Zechariah (and Elizabeth) were already very old. It is therefore certain that they did not live much after John's birth. Joseph of Arimathea does not come on the scene until Jesus was a grown man 30 years or so later, and so their paths would not have crossed. What is more, Joseph of Arimathea, though originally from Arimathea was settled in Jerusalem while John, Elizabeth and Zechariah, like Jesus, was from Galilee.

A:

Luke's Gospel says that John the Baptist's mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary, mother of Jesus, but thisis unlikely to have been the case. Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) says that both Elizabeth and Zacharias were literary creations by the author of Luke's Gospel.

The synoptic gospels say that John was imprisoned right at the beginning of Jesus' mission then beheaded when the daughter of Herodias, who pleased Antipas with her dancing, asked for John's head on a platter.

The historical account says that John was executed in faraway Macherus and not necessarily by beheading. The marriage took place in 34 CE and Antipas ordered John to be executed in 35 or 36 CE, not because Herodias had wanted his head on a platter but out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

John had publicly criticised Herod Antipas for his marriage to Herodias, the former wife of Antipas' own brother, which John said was immoral. The wedding took place in 34 CE and John was executed in 35 or early 36 CE on the orders of Herod Antipas, out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews by the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus: "Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

More than any other early Christian writer, the author of Luke was a master of using repetition to confirm a story in the minds of his readers. He seems to have found that if he repeated the same information three times, in different circumstances, then his readers accepted it as the truth. Luke had Jesus associated frequently with John the Baptist, raising John to the status of a prophet, almost an equal of Elijah, but acknowledging Jesus to be greater.

The references in chapter 7 enabled John to once again acknowledge Jesus as one greater than he, while seeking confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah,then the disciples repeated this message and finally Jesus summarised all his miracles that would indeed prove him to be the Messiah. The message, implicitly and explicitly, that Jesus truly was the Messiah was repeated three times in a short passage. This is evidence of a literary masterpiece.

The 'doubting' question posed by John was for the benefit of his disciples. It was intended that they would receive confirmation that Christ was Messiah.