John the Baptist - The Prophet Who Prepared the Way for Jesus

A man living in the wilderness, wearing camel hair and eating locusts. A voice crying out in the desert, calling people to repent. A prophet who baptized thousands in the Jordan River. A preacher who told soldiers to stop extorting money. A man who looked at Jesus and said, He must increase, I must decrease. This is John the Baptist. He is the bridge between the Old Testament and the New.In this episode, I tell the story of John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus and the forerunner of the Messiah. John was born to elderly parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, after an angel announced his birth. He leaped in his mother's womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to visit. He grew strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness until his public ministry began.John's message was simple. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He did not perform miracles. He did not claim to be the Messiah. He pointed to the one who was coming after him, whose sandals he was not worthy to untie. Herod Antipas arrested John for criticizing his marriage to his brother's wife. Herodias, the wife, demanded John's head on a platter. Herod complied. John was executed before he saw the full fruit of his ministry. But Jesus said of him: Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John.Turn down the lights, put on your headphones, and press play because John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by showing people that they needed a savior.