The ministry of Jesus followed John's, and some of Jesus' early followers had previously been followers of John. Herod Antipas saw John as a threat and had him executed. It has been suggested that Jesus may have been a follower of John. Jesus was among those whom John baptized. John anticipated a messianic figure who would be greater than himself. John's baptism was a purification rite for repentant sinners, performed in "living water" (in this case a running river) in accord with Jewish custom. Some scholars maintain that he was influenced by the Essenes, who were semi-ascetic, expected an apocalypse, and had rituals similar to baptism, although there is no direct evidence to substantiate this. John followed the example of previous Hebrew prophets, living austerely, challenging sinful rulers, calling for repentance, and promising God's justice. John the Baptist (died c 30) was a mission preacher and a major religious figure who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River in expectation of a divine apocalypse that would restore occupied Israel.
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