God had a special purpose for John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel talked face to face with his father.

(Luke 1:12-17 NIV) When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. {13} But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. {14} He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, {15} for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. {16} Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. {17} And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet, meaning the last prophet before the death and resurrection of Christ. He was to take a Nazarite vow--he wouldn't cut his hair or drink wine.

The coming of John the Baptist was prophesied.

(Matthew 11:13-14 NIV) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. {14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

(Isaiah 40:3 NIV) A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.