John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, sent to prepare the way of the Lord. His birth was announced by the angel Gabriel, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15). His father, Zechariah, prophesied that John would “go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:76).
John lived in the wilderness, clothed in camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). He preached a message of repentance, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). He baptized in the Jordan River as a sign of repentance and readiness for the coming Messiah.
He openly confronted sin, even among the religious leaders. To the Pharisees and Sadducees, he declared, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7). His boldness and purity of message drew many, yet his humility remained. He said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
John baptized Jesus, and as He came up from the water, the Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). This marked the beginning of Christ’s public ministry.
Later, John was imprisoned for rebuking Herod’s unlawful marriage and was eventually beheaded (Mark 6:17-28). Jesus said of him, “Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
John’s life fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 40:3), and his message pointed directly to Christ: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
