John 1:30-31 30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who was ahead of me, because he was before me.’ 31And I myself did not know him, but in order that he might be revealed to Israel, for this reason I myself came baptizing in water.”
John the Baptist makes the connection clear to his disciples and those gathered around to be baptized: Jesus was the Lamb and the one John had been talking about and preparing for. Verse 30 repeats the same words as verse 15 and the idea found in verse 27 where John humbly pointed to the greatness of the coming One. Now this person has a name: Jesus!
Jesus came after John in a temporal way. There was a sequence to their ministries. John prepared people to receive God’s kingdom by believing in Jesus. The greater person came after the lesser in time, yet this greater person existed before the lesser.
Verse 31 indicates that John and Jesus likely had little or no interaction before this point in time. Minimally, John did not know why Jesus had come or that he was the Messiah. John only knew that his mission was one of preparation. He did not need to deliberate or ponder who Jesus was. The way this passage is written implies immediate recognition, which would only come through the Holy Spirit and God’s anointing upon John. John was indeed a prophet who had an insight that others did not have.
Jesus came as the anointed Messiah to Israel. God began with the Jews who were to be the first witnesses to his saving grace. Jesus was Israel’s Messiah and the world’s Savior. John knew his ministry was temporary but important in preparing the people to believe in the Messiah.
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