Jesus came to be baptized by John in the Jordan River (John 1:29-34). Twice the desert prophet acknowledged, “I did not know Jesus [as the Redeemer].”
v. 31 “I did not know Him . . . .”
v. 33 “I would not have known Him . . . .”
What did he mean? It can’t mean they had never met. Their mothers—Mary and Elizabeth—had enjoyed a three month visit together before either son was born (Luke 1:39 and 56). Each would have followed the birth of the other and the growth of the other. Jesus and John must have played together as children many times. Certainly the long annual trips to Jerusalem would have thrown the boys together. They were cousins.
So it can’t mean John was unaware of this most unusual Person. It has to mean, John did not know that He was “. . . the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (v. 29) until he saw the dove. Henceforth, his relationship to the God-man would have a new significance.
What’s the point? As we live our lives, new significance can come into old relation-ships. God is in the process of growing us. We are all experiencing daily events—some we like, others we don’t. We are all responding to God in daily life. Every life around us is a work in progress.
As we get older, we take the time to discover what we have in common with others. We slow down and come to value the experiences of others and what God is teaching them. We find new significance in the lives around us. It’s called fellowship, which is much more than two fellas in one ship.
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