(REFLECTIONS ON John 1:29-42)

When John the Baptist saw Jesus in verse 29 he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” However, afterwards in verse 31 he said, “And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

How could John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, but not recognize Him? Again in verse 33, John writes, “And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'”

John the Baptist twice says, “I did not recognize Him.” John the Baptist may have known Jesus as a man, as a relative, but He did not recognize Him, not meaning Jesus, but meaning the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

This recognition wasn’t because they were related, because they saw each other as children, but by revelation from God through the Holy Spirit. I did not recognize Him shows us that Jesus isn’t just a man to be known, but is the Messiah, the Christ, to be revealed to the world.

I did not recognize Him means that it isn’t our eyes and experience that tell us who Jesus is, but it is by the Spirit working in us, that through revelation, Jesus as the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is revealed.

Scripture tells us that on the next day John was standing with two of his disciples and when he saw Jesus he said again, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard and they followed Jesus. Jesus said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Jesus, “Rabbi, where are You staying?” Jesus said to them, “Come, and you will see.“

For us to know Jesus as more than just a historical figure, but as the Christ, the Son of God, the one who takes away sin of the world, we need the Spirit and God’s revelation to reveal Him, to open our eyes, because until then, we will not recognize Him.

Jesus invites us, as He invited the two disciples, “Come, and you will see.” May our testimony be, I did not recognize Him, but He was revealed by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus also invited me and said, “Come, and you will see.“

I know Jesus is the Christ by the Spirit, revelation from God, and through His invitation, to “Come, and you will see.”

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: John 1