7032 - Revelation to John - John 1:29-34

Today we share John 1, verses 29 through 34. These verses pertain to the instant when John the Baptist recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. Listen as I read the passage:

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

We notice that John recognized and called attention to those around him that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah who was sent to serve as the atoning sacrifice which would take away the sins of the world.

Since the days of Genesis 3, which records the fall of man, and God’s withdrawing His Spirit from man and woman; Heaven and earth had been awaiting this momentous event – the coming of woman’s offspring who was destined to crush the head of the serpent, Satan (Gen 3:15). The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world was the same person predicted in that ancient passage.

As the many eons had passed, countless prophecies had been given by God’s messengers, and now the actual figure is on hand!

We read John’s words: “I myself did not know him…” Now, John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins. Their mothers had visited before either was born. Possibly the boys had been together as relatives.

This passage tells us that John the Baptist did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until Jesus had come to the Jordan to be baptized by him. Matthew (3:13f) tells us that John tried to deter him from this act, even saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” This does show us that John knew the character of Jesus and knew Him to be of higher integrity than himself.

However, we also note that John had been instructed by God who had sent him out to baptize, and to minister in order to prepare people for the Lord’s coming. He had been told that as he baptized people, one day there would be one certain man; whom he would baptize and then the Holy Spirit would come down like a dove and would remain on him, that man is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, the Messiah, the Son of God. All three of the Synoptic gospels tell us that this occurred when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist Then a voice spoke from heaven saying, “you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased (Mt. 3:13f; Mk 1:9f; Lk 3:21f).”

The word Messiah means “anointed one”. Acts (10:38) affirms that this was true when we are told: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and…he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

Once again let’s review the progress of these events in time. First: the baptism of Jesus initiated the public ministry of Jesus. Mark writes that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

Next, at once, after being baptized, the Spirit had taken Jesus into the desert where he was for forty days being tempted by Satan.

Now, comes this experience when John B. publicly calls attention to Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Thus, John B. had received an illuminating revelation about Jesus there at the Jordan when Jesus was baptized.