1. Matthew 3:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who is John the Baptist?

Matthew 3:1 (ESV)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

In short

John the Baptist was the miraculously conceived son (Luke 1:5–25) of the priest Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth, who was a relative of Mary, Jesus’ mother (see Luke 1:36). John grew up in Judea.

John the Baptist was the son of a priest named Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth, who was a family member of Mary, the mother of Jesus (see Luke 1:36). Already prior to his birth John had been called to be a harbinger of the Messiah. Luke 1:5–25 describes his wonderful birth. Jesus grew up in Galilee, whereas John was raised in the Judean highlands.1