**Where found in the Bible**: Matthew 3, Matthew 11, Matthew 14, Mark 1, Mark 6, Luke 1, Luke 5:33 (John’s disciples fast), Luke 7, John 1, John 12:28-30, Acts 18:24-19:6 Facts: Lived during the time of Jesus. Was roughly 5 months older than Jesus and died around 30 AD. **_Possibly part of the Essenes._** Below is a message by Eugene Peterson where he postulates that John could have been part or the Essenes. These are a super zealot sect of Judaism. They were known for adopting small children who had become orphans. It’s possible this was John because his parents were old when he was born. Also, they lived (as a point of separation) out in the wilderness area. That’s where the Bible says John was. Also, the message John had “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand” was a main teaching doctrine of the Essenes. The Essenes were also the people who spent a lot of time copying the Bible... they were the ones who provided us with the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Is it possible John wrote one of them... 🤯) It makes a lot of sense and brings a lot of light onto who He was. <https://youtu.be/P4VodFaSuow> Resources and links: <https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist>