Scene of the asceticism of John in the distance of the central panel

He then leads an exemplary life as an ascetic «in the desert» (Luke chapter 1 verse 80).

Memling transposes this scene into the forest.

Hans MEMLING, “Triptych of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist”, detail of the central panel, “John the Baptist praying in the forest”, Memling Museum, Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges (Brugge)
detail of the central panel, “John the Baptist praying in the forest”
Scene of the apostolate of John in the distance of the central panel

We also see him preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins (Luke chapter 3 verse 3).

Hans MEMLING, “Triptych of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist”, detail of the central panel, “John the Baptist proclaiming a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins”, Memling Museum, Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges (Brugge)
detail of the central panel, “John the Baptist preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins”

John innovates in the judaism of his time.

He advocates the forgiveness of sins no longer through the sacrifice of animals in the temple by cremation, but by «baptism», that is, according to the etymology of the word, «immersion» in water.

Scene of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus on the banks of the Jordan River in the far left inner shutter

According to the biblical writings, he announces the coming of god's envoy in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, one of his contemporaries.

He recognizes it by a baptism in the waters of the Jordan: this scene appears at the top of the left inner shutter.

Hans MEMLING, “Triptych of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist”, detail of the inner left panel, “John the Baptist baptizing Jesus on the banks of the Jordan River”, Memling Museum, Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges (Brugge)
detail of the inner left panel, “John the Baptist baptizing Jesus on the banks of the Jordan River”

On the other bank, John the Baptist presents Jesus with the words Behold the lamb of god(Ecce agnus dei) to his first two disciples Andrew and John the Apostle; they join him.

Scene of the arrest of John in the distance of the central panel

From that point on, his story turns to tragedy.

The tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, Herod Antipas married «his brother Philip's wife (Herodias)» (Mark chapter 6, verse 17);

As the jewish faith regards any marriage with his brother's wife as «defiling» and forbids it (Leviticus chapter 18 verse 16; chapter 20 verse 21), John publicly condemns it.

Herod feared that this would provoke «a revolt, the crowd seeming ready to follow all the advice of this man.

He therefore prefers to take him before any trouble occurs because of him, rather than to have to repent later if a movement takes place» (Jewish Antiquities, Book XVIII, chapter 5, paragraph 118).

In the event of unrest caused by John's supporters, Herod had to answer to the roman authorities, who could dismiss him:

he gives “the order to arrest John” (Mark chapter 6, verse 17).

Hans MEMLING, “Triptych of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist”, detail of the central panel, “Arrest of John the Baptist by order of Herod Antipas”, Memling Museum, Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges (Brugge)
detail of the central panel, “Arrest of John the Baptist by order of Herod Antipas”

On the central panel above the white lamb, John was forcibly taken to the prison on the left side of the current city of Machaerus(μάχαιρα), whose ethymology in ancient greek means «sword» and which is located in present-day Jordan.