John the Baptist was a Nazarite, set apart from birth in the order of Samson, Samuel, and the Recabites. Nazarites took a vow to never take fermented drink or eat anything that comes from the grapevine. They will never use a razor on the head.

John preached “baptism and repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” John’s theme was repentance. He was appointed by God to announce the arrival of Jesus. He had no trouble confronting people and was uncompromising in his teaching. He had no power of position yet he spoke with authority and had many followers.

John the Baptist was so called because he baptized in water (not spirit) those who repented. Normally only non-Jews were baptized when they converted to Judaism. The Essenes, a strict monastic sect of Judaism practiced baptism by water for purification.

Do you have to be baptized to be saved? What does baptism mean?

The Jews baptized as a cleansing ceremony. The very fact that Jesus was baptized is reason to believe that baptism is symbolic. Did Jesus have any need to be baptized?

“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”
John was calling people away from ritual and legalism to focus directly on Jesus.

When Jesus was baptized, the complete trinity was represented. God, the Son in the bodily form of Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, and God, the Father in the voice from heaven.