John the Baptist was a Jewish itinerant preacher in the early 1st century AD. Other titles for John include John the Forerunner in Eastern Christianity, John the Immerser in some Baptist traditions, and the prophet John in Islam. He is sometimes alternatively called John the Baptizer.

This book sets out in an accessible yet rigorous way the life and teaching of John especially the way he interacted with Jesus and the influence he continued to have on the early church."Whether from a historical or a spiritual standpoint, this is a fascinating, scholarly, very inspiring account of the life and legacy of Jesus' cousin - the one he called the greatest man in the world. I couldn't put it down and could not recommend it more."Sandy Millar, Former vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, Honorary Assistant Bishop in London