Wooden Greek Christian Orthodox Wood Icon of Saint John the Baptist / N12 Wooden Greek Orthodox Icon of Saint John The Baptist WIDTH: 8 CM 3.14 in LENGTH: 20 CM 7.87 in John the Baptist (Hebrew:  , Yoanan ha-mmabil, Arabic:   Yuhanna Al-Ma'madan,Aramaic:Ioanan, Classical Armenian:   Yovhanns Mkrti, Greek:  /     Ho Hgios/Tmios Endoxos, Prophts, Prdromos, ka Baptists Ionnes) was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure in Christianity, Islam, the Bah' Faith, and Mandaeism. John is described as having the unique practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Most scholars agree that John baptized Jesus. Scholars generally believe Jesus was a follower or disciple of Johnand several New Testament accounts report that some of Jesus's early followers had previously been followers of John. John the Baptist is also mentioned by Jewish historian Josephus. Some scholars maintain that John was influenced by the semi-ascetic Essenes, who expected an apocalypse and practiced rituals corresponding strongly with baptism, although no direct evidence substantiates this. According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself, and Jesus was the one whose coming John foretold. Christians commonly refer to John as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, since John announces Jesus' coming. John is also identified with the prophet Elijah.