[31] And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

Explanation

John knew Jesus as His cousin. John also knew that his mission was to make manifest the Messiah to Israel. This was the reason that he had a preaching ministry that was leading people to repentance pictured in baptism. They were being prepared to meet the Messiah. They were being prepared by being repentant.

This is the moment where John realizes that the Messiah was Jesus. He prophetically understood in this moment that the person he was preparing people for was here. Think about how incredible that must have been. The messiah is here, and it is his cousin. Amazing!

Application

When God calls us to a ministry, He rarely gives us all of the information that we will eventually have in the doing of that ministry. We learn as we go. We see the providence of God far more clearly in hindsight than in foresight. God has a plan, and we do not always know it from the beginning. By faith in Christ, we act on what we do know and what God has told us through His Word. As we act in faith, God uses us and allows us to see more clearly. One songwriter said, “I’ll walk with grace my feet, and faith my eyes.” I like that sentiment. We need God’s daily grace, and we walk by faith and not by sight.

Response

1. Where do you need to live by faith today?
2. Who do you need to point to Jesus today?