Down by the lake he was better known.
He was the son of Zacharias, a priest and a native of the wonderful land of Galilee.

The Galileans had at first mocked at him, and with a side glance at Jesus, said: "What a blessed land is Galilee, where new teachers of virtue are as plentiful as mushrooms in rainy weather!" Jesus retorted by asking whether they knew what kind of a people it was that only produced preachers of repentance?
The name of the preacher in the wilderness was John.

More and more people went out to hear him, and everyone related marvels.

He chased locusts and fed on them, and took the honey from the wild bees and swallowed it.

He seemed to despise the ordinary food and customs of men.