At first he was not known as John the Baptist. He was just plain John. Or Priest John.
There were too many priests to all serve at the Temple at once, so John served his few weeks every year, then returned home.
An angel told John's father even before he was born that John would become a prophet some day. Sometimes a prophet tells the future. But sometimes he just passes on to people what God says to do to have a happy life and be able to go to God's heaven some day.
John moved out to the desert among many caves. He dressed like a wild man in leather clothes, and he ate like a wild man. He ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
He was imitating another prophet who lived long before him named Elijah. Sometimes other prophets wore the same type clothing too so people would know they were prophets.
One day God told John that the time was close for him to announce that the Jews' new king from God was coming very soon. So they needed to change their life and get ready for this new kingdom of God.
People wanted a new king very much because they were either ruled by a bad king in their homeland, or a bad king far away in a city called Rome. They didn't like either type of king.
Even though John preferred to be alone in the desert, he forced himself to go among people and tell them about the new king coming from God.
Many people followed him out to the desert to hear John explain about the new king. He told them to get right with God by trying not to sin and being baptized in the Jordan River, a kind of spiritual bath.
John baptized probably thousands of people ~ so many that people started calling him John the Baptizer. Everyone was curious to find out who their new king was.
One day a special person came to John to be baptized. It was the new king. His name was Jesus. Jesus was baptized to be an example to the rest of us.
Everywhere John went, people wanted to know more about King Jesus. He talked to them even though he was shy. Do you ever tell people about Jesus even when you feel shy about it?
John was surprised when honest people liked him more because he told them about King Jesus. You will be liked by honest people too for telling them about Jesus.