The Gospels
prepare us to hear the word of grace
by first making us hear the voice of John, the voice crying in the desert, denouncing and exposing the leaders of the people as a «brood of vipers» and calling all to a baptism of
repentance.
In this prophecy as well as in the one given
by the angel (1:13 - 17), John is described as the Holy Spirit - empowered prophet of the Most High who would lead the people to
repentance for the forgiveness of sins and
prepare them for the coming Savior.