The Jews looking for a Messiah had the testimony of John the Baptist, who
was the forerunner of Christ. In retrospect, no Jew could say that they did not
have notice or preparation for the coming of the Messiah. John boldly proclaimed
the gospel of baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. John preached the
necessity of baptism as a token of true repentance of sin, because without the act
of heart-felt repentance and confession of sins there is no remission of sin. The
atonement for sin came only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. John was a
bold speaker and was well know around all the areas Judea. He left no questions
unanswered to the hearers, as the Scripture below attests.

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth; conceived six months before Mary
the mother of Jesus conceived. John was a cousin to Jesus, and both John and Jesus
lives had been set apart for a divine purpose. John had many followers and his ministry was far reaching and the ministry of Christ would be an even greater ministry. John prepared the hearts of many Jews for the arrival of the True Messiah, in a time when ungodly rulers were bent on killing John and Jesus. And ultimately that was the fate of both men of God.-(Tara Hart)

Matthew 3:

In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness (desert)
of Judea, saying. "Repent, that is to think differently and change your mind. You must regret your sins and change your conduct for the kingdom of Heaven is very close." The prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming of John when he said, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness and shouting in the desert, 'Prepare the highway for the Lord; make His highways straight, level and direct.' And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Is. 40:3; 52:10) (Psalm 98:2).

"At that time, Jerusalem and all Judea and the country round about the Jordan went out to see the prophet called John the Baptist. And they were baptized in the Jordan by him, and confessed their sins. But when several of the Pharisees and Sadducees came also to be baptized, John was angry with them and said. 'You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation of God against disobedience that is coming? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance and allow your lives to prove your change of heart. Do not presume to say to yourselves that we have Abraham for our forefather, for I tell you that God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! And already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water because of repentance, that is because of your changing of mind for the better; heartily amending your ways with abhorrence of your past sins. But He that is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fan (shovel or fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor, and gather and store His wheat in His barn; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire that cannot be put out."

John the Baptist predicted much in these few verses about things to come. His mention to the Pharisees and Sadducees (whom were legalistic in doctrine), about the wrath to come was reference to the end-times and God's judgement on sinful mankind. His comments about not bearing good fruit and being cast into the fire was something Jesus would address in His ministry, as is his mention of the wheat and chaff; eternal life and eternal destruction. John being only 30 years old was later arrested and beheaded for his witness of Jesus.