Bible Dictionary
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was the prophetic forerunner of Jesus. He preached repentance, baptized in the Jordan, identified Jesus as the Messiah, and was imprisoned and executed by Herod after rebuking his sin.
Biblical Usage
John prepared the way of the Lord and announced the near approach of the Messianic kingdom. His baptism symbolized repentance and cleansing and served as preparation for the Messiah’s coming. He baptized Jesus, identified him as the one who would follow, and testified to his Messiahship. Jesus described John as a burning and shining light.
Scripture References