John the Baptist Not Knowing Jesus - John 1:31

John the apostle wrote how John the Baptist baptized and was confronted by religious leaders, “in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-one of his book, John shared how John the Baptist says, “and I knew him not” where we read:

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel,

therefore am I come baptizing with water.

The verse reads, “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel” John began with the words, “And I knew him not” which means “and I, John the Baptist, did not perceive, notice, discover or discern who Jesus was”: “but that he should be made manifest” which means “however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover that Jesus was to be known, made visible and realized” “to Israel” or “by Israel whose name means he shall be a prince and refers to the family or descendants of the patriarch Jacob”. John shared how John the Baptist was unaware of who Jesus was, however, He was to be made “known” unto the people in “Israel”.

The verse goes on to say, “therefore am I come baptizing with water.” John continued with the words, “therefore am I come” which means “for this reason and account John the Baptist arose and appeared” “baptizing with water” or “immersing and submerging people in water to make them clean”. John shared how John the Baptist declared the reason he was “baptizing” was to make “Jesus” known to the people of “Israel”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how John the Baptist, who was actually Jesus' cousin, was unaware who Jesus actually was. Jesus was the Messiah and Christ sent from God, and until this time, John the Baptist did not know the full impact of his position in the world. Jesus is the “Savior” of the world, and everyone who yields their life to Him as their personal “Lord and Savior” will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand the purpose of John the Baptist and recognize Jesus for who He really is – the Christ and Savior of the world.

Next time John shares how John the Baptist, “bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".