John the Baptist stands in the Jordan River, immersing pilgrims in the water to cleanse their sins. A radical man who lives alone in the desert, John’s message is electrifying to the suffering peasants of Judea. He prophesies that a new king is coming to judge them all, and only those who have been baptized will be safe from his wrath. He accepts the people who are seen as unclean, telling them that their behavior dictates their holiness, not their being. He states that the new king will baptize them with the Holy Spirit instead of just water. Pharisees, religious scholars and leaders, traveled to see John preach and observe him for signs of blasphemy. They ask him who he is, and he states that he is not the Christ that he is predicting, but instead is just a voice “calling in the desert” (98).

King Herod Antipas feels threatened by John. His lavish building projects, including the city of Tiberia, in honor of the current emperor Tiberius, have increased the financial burden on the people of Galilee. He is aware that his allegiance to Rome and to the cruel Tiberius make him unpopular.