John the Baptist appears in the Judean wilderness, fulfilling Isaiah’s promise of a messenger sent to “prepare the way” for the Messiah. Clad in camel’s hair and fueled by locusts and wild honey, he calls Israel to genuine repentance and baptism, setting the stage for Jesus’ own ministry and inviting all who wander to return to God’s path. We’ll consider how John’s call to repentance readies our hearts for Christ’s grace, exposing any false compasses that lead us astray, so we can examine our own spiritual wanderings and follow Jesus as our true north.