JOHN 1:31-34 THE REVEALING OF JESUS TO JOHN AND ISRAEL

John 1:31 "I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." 32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

            This is a great section of scripture that tells us that John did not know Jesus even though he was His cousin.  It gives us a glimpse into the mind of God and how He works when showing us His will.  If you want to know the will of God you have to do the will of God that has already been revealed.  We will also see the difference between John’s baptism and the Baptism that Jesus came to give to us who would believe in His name.

 Verse 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

• Up to this time even though John was the cousin of Jesus he did not know Jesus
• He had lived in the wilderness so they had no contact with each other
• He is in effect denying that he and Jesus had schemed together
• He had to go before Jesus baptizing to fulfill prophecy

 Verse 32 - Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

Verse 33 - 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.'

Mt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Mark 1:12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

• In his first act of public ministry Christ was identifying himself publicly with sinners
• His perfect righteousness will be given to us
• His baptism represented his death, burial, and resurrection
• His being the Messiah was publicly attested to by God’s voice from heaven
• Notice John saw Christ, the Holy Spirit come down on Him, and heard God’s voice from heaven.
• He was an eyewitness of Christ’s Majesty

2Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

 Verse 34 - I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

Hebrews1:1-3 

1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.