The answer is: John the Baptist

Matt 3:14

In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist plays a pivotal role not just as Jesus’ baptizer but as a significant prophetic figure in the Jewish tradition. His striking style, with a wardrobe of camel’s hair and a diet of locusts and wild honey, set him apart as an ascetic. John’s appearance drew crowds into the wilderness, eager for repentance and a radically authentic spiritual experience.

What's fascinating is the prophetic echo here. John's method of baptism symbolized a fresh start, paralleling the ancient practice of ritual cleansing that respected cleanliness laws. It's exhilarating to think that John was not just preparing the way for Jesus but reviving old traditions, presenting a bridge from the past to the transformative path that Jesus embodied.

John’s initial reluctance to baptize Jesus is compelling. He recognizes Jesus’ sinlessness and thus believes he should be the one being baptized instead. This moment exemplifies humility and awareness, reminding believers that even the greatest among them should resist the temptation of pride.

Interestingly, baptizing in that day involved complete immersion, which beautifully signifies death to old ways and rebirth anew, underscoring a resonant theme in various cultural and spiritual traditions worldwide despite their disparities. It thunders a call at the edge of something new—a universal tale of rebirth that still reverberates!