The main figures focused on during the season of Advent are Mary, Joseph and John the Baptist. Mary and Joseph are obvious but why and who was John the Baptist? John was Jesus cousin, he was born 6 months before Jesus and his birth was a foreshadowing of Jesus birth. God had promised the return of one with the spirit of Elijah, the prophet from the Old Testament, who would 'prepare the way' and light the path to and for the Messiah. This was John the Baptist.

John's birth was announced by an angel to his father in the Temple! Then when Gabriel visited Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to the Messiah, as proof he told her that her Aunt, who was barren was even now, carrying John in her womb, and Mary immediately made the journey to go and see her Aunt Elizabeth (John's mother).

John was a very contraversial figure in his day. . . . not the kind of guy you invited to your home for dinner, he looked like a homeless person. Because he was, he lived off grid (well everyone did, but he took it to extremes), living in the wilderness. He wore homemade camel hair clothing, and ate locusts and wild honey, not obtained without risk. So he was tough and self-sufficient, with help from God. In spite of this, huge crowds flocked to hear him and it might of seemed as if he were running for office, but while his diet may have involved honey his words didn't. It is quickly obvious he had never read, “How to make friends and influence people” because he called a spade, a spade and didn't try to dress it up as a shovel. John spoke his mind — or (more accurately) he spoke God’s mind! Ultimately it got him killed, but even King Herod after arresting John still liked listening to him and respected him as a prophet, John had great charisma, he had presence. I have to wonder if the pharisees realized Jesus was his cousin?!

Jesus paid John the ulitmate compliment, he said of him:

"I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." - Matthew 11:11