John the Baptist's baptism is the first baptism mentioned in the New Testament. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of His coming.
Isaiah prophesied of the mission of John the Baptist: to prepare the way of the LORD God - Jesus Christ.
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God...And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." - Isaiah 40:3,5
John the Baptist prepared the way of the LORD by preaching and baptizing the baptism of repentance. John the Baptist’s message is that we need to prepare the way for Jesus in our life by turning from our sins.
John the Baptist's baptism was strictly for preparation for Jesus. When Jesus was revealed as the Christ at His baptism, John the Baptist’s ministry was accomplished; Jesus and His disciples began baptizing. (John 3:22,26).
"Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose." - Acts 13:25
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" - Matthew 3:11
Before Jesus could pour out the Holy Ghost, it was necessary that He die for the sins of the world. Only Jesus, the Creator of the universe revealed in flesh, could pay the requirement of a sinless, holy sacrifice, which was the price for our sins. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the perfect, holy sacrifice of the Father Himself revealed in a human body. John the Baptist recognized this.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." - John 1:29-31
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