And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a belt of a skin about his waist; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
All Commentaries on Mark 1:6 Go To Mark 1
John Chrysostom
AD 407
It was necessary that the precursor of the One who was to undo the agelong burdens of men, such as toil, malediction, pain and sweat, should in his own person give some token of the gifts to come, so as to stand above these tribulations. And so it was that he neither tilled the earth, nor plowed the furrow, nor did he eat bread of his own sweat, for his table was easily prepared, and his clothing more easily than his table, and his dwelling more easily than his clothing. For he had need neither of roof, nor bed, nor table, nor any such thing. But even while still within this flesh of ours he lived an almost angelic life. His clothing was put together from the hair of camels, so that even from his garments he might teach us that we free ourselves of human needs, and need not be bound to this earth, but that we may return to the pristine dignity in which Adam first lived, before he had need of garments or of clothing. The Gospel of St. Matthew, Homily
