Our knowledge of the figure of John the Baptist is very limited. We have only those references to him in the Christian gospels, where he stands alongside of Jesus. We also have references to him ...
and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him ...
John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, telling people to repent their sins to be baptised as a sign of their repentance. They needed to prepare for a greater person coming after him.