Matthew 3:1 Meaning and Explanation

The narrative leaps from Jesus' childhood in Nazareth to the threshold of his public ministry. John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, steps onto the stage as the long-awaited forerunner, taking up his work not in the temple courts but in the open wilderness south and east of Jerusalem.

The wilderness is where Israel first met God after the exodus, and where the prophets often heard him speak. By beginning there, John signals a fresh start for the nation. His task is to ready hearts for One greater than himself, and his very presence announces that the time of waiting is nearly over.