Page "John the Baptist" Paragraph 2

John anticipated a messianic figure who would be greater than himself, and, in the New Testament, Jesus is the one whose coming John foretold.

Christians commonly refer to John as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, since John announces Jesus ' coming.

John is also identified with the prophet Elijah.

Some of Jesus ' early followers had previously been followers of John.

Some scholars have further speculated that Jesus was himself a disciple of John for some period of time, but this view is disputed.