John the baptist

John the baptist was a close relative
to Jesus. They probably played to-
gether when they were kids, and
followed closely during their youth.

The bible says that John was the most
significant prophetic character during
the whole time of the Old Covenant.
Yet any born-again child of God is
greater and that refers to the childhood
state of any believer in the Messiah in
the New covenant;

Luke 7:28
I tell you, among those born of
women there is no one greater
than John; yet the one who is
least in the kingdom of God is
greater than he.”

As we know, most of the Jews
missed the Messiah (Jesus) when
he came. But John the baptist
had such a great revelation about
the Messiah, and his call was to
testify of the Light and by that
prepare the people for the
Messiah;

John 1:6-8
There was a man sent from God
whose name was John. He came
as a witness to testify concerning
that light, so that through him all
might believe. He himself was
not the light; he came only as a
witness of the light. 

Mark 1:2-5
"..as it is written in Isaiah the
prophet: I will send my mess-
enger ahead of you, who will
prepare your way - a voice of
one calling in the wilderness,
"prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him"

And so, John the Baptist app-
eared in the wilderness, preach-
ing a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins. The
whole Judean countryside and
all the people of Jerusalem
went out to him, confessing
their sins and were baptized
by him (John) in the Jordan
River"

John had great revelation also
regarding the bride of the
Messiah, the church, Noone else
talked like John at this very early
stage, when Jesus were to just
start his ministry;

John 3:29
"The bride belongs to the bride-
groom. The friend (John) who
attends the bridegroom waits and
listens for him, and is full of joy
when he hears the bridegroom’s 
voice; that joy is mine, and it is
now complete."