John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist (died c. 30) was a Jew preacher and ascetic. He drew large crowds on the banks of the River Jordan, demanding from them repentance and baptism in view of the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God.Jesus was one of those whom he baptized. He was killed by Herod Antipas, whom he had denounced for his marriage. The historian Josephus writes that Herod had John killed for fear that John might raise a rebellion. Jesus' own ministry followed John's, and some of Jesus' early followers had been followers of John. John, like Jesus, preached at a time of political, social, and religious conflict (see Cultural and historical background of Jesus), and he prophesied that fire was coming to destroy the wicked. Christians commonly refer to John as the Precursor or Forerunner of Jesus Christ, since in the gospel, John announces Jesus' coming. He is also identified with Elijah, and as related to Jesus . In view of , Early Church tradition describes John as endowed with prenatal... full article at wikipedia