Which description best captures John the Baptist's mission?

• A. He led miracles in Galilee.
• B. He preached repentance and baptized Jesus.
• C. He wrote a gospel in Aramaic.
• D. He betrayed Jesus to the authorities.

Answer: (B)

John the Baptist’s mission centers on preparing people for Jesus by calling them to repentance and symbolizing that turning toward God through baptism. In the Gospels, his message is plain: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and be baptized as a sign of that repentance. He also publicly identifies Jesus as the coming Messiah by baptizing him in the Jordan, which marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He did not perform miracles in Galilee—those belong to Jesus—nor did he write a gospel, nor betray Jesus. So the description of preaching repentance and baptizing Jesus best captures his distinctive role as the forerunner.