John the Baptist

John the Baptist fulfilled the prophesied role of preparing the way for the Messiah. Born to elderly parents Zechariah and Elizabeth through divine intervention, John was set apart from birth. Living ascetically in the wilderness, clothed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey, he proclaimed a message of repentance and baptized in the Jordan River. His fearless preaching drew crowds but also confronted corruption, ultimately leading to his imprisonment and execution by Herod Antipas. John recognized his subordinate role to Jesus, declaring, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Jesus called John the greatest of prophets and confirmed his role as the "Elijah" who was to come, preparing people's hearts for the arrival of God's kingdom.