In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
This verse points to the beginning of a new period, when after prophetic silence John the Baptist appears with a divine calling and a special mission. He was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, in the place where a person remains alone with God. The place of his ministry, the wilderness of Judea, symbolizes spiritual purity and being far from worldly glory, where the word of God sounds with simplicity and power. Thus, after a long silence, through John the word of God came to life again in Israel, announcing the beginning of a new era of salvation and preparing for the coming of the Messiah.