By Elimu Assistant Team 
THE ROLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (ISAIAH 40:3-5; MALACHI 3:1; 4:5-6; LUKE 7:20-35.)
- John the Baptist was the link between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
- He prepared people for the Messiah’s coming by asking them to repent and be baptized. He baptized people in the Jordan.
- John held a prophetic ministry and it is believed he had the power and spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:16 – 17.)
- He had similar characteristics to Elijah e.g. he lived an austere life of fasting and praying, ate honey and locusts, and wore camel skins.
- He preached to the people about Jesus, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world John 1:29.
- He introduced Jesus Christ to the people of Israel as the Messiah.
- John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. God revealed that Jesus was his son through the descent of the Holy Spirit and proclamation by his voice.
- John the Baptist condemned evils that were being carried out in Israel by Herod.
- He condemned the Pharisees for hypocrisy and the pagan Roman authority.
- John the Baptist broke the prophetic silence that had lasted over 400 years between Malachi and himself.
- He ushered people to the Messianic age.
- Jesus referred to John as the greatest of all the Israelite prophets (Luke 7:20 – 25).
- He foretold that the coming Messiah was greater than him.
