(32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33) And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thous shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:32-33)
Explanation:
The term “bare record” reminds us of a witness in a court case. John’s job was to witness of the coming Messiah. When Jesus came John baptized Him, and witnessed that the Spirit came to descend on Him.
What did that Holy Spirit look like? He said the action that it was like was a dove descending from heaven. There is some mystery to this, but it was clear to John. John’s testimony was that Jesus is the one who he saw experience this moment.
The phrase is said again by John, “And I knew him not”. Before this moment, John did not know and had no agenda for any one person to be identified as Messiah. John wasn’t routing for the Messiah to be Jesus. So, how did he know that it was Jesus that was the Messiah?
His record is that “he that sent me to baptize with water”, a reference to God himself, “said unto me” the conditions that Jesus met. God told John that the Messiah would be the one that John saw this Spirit descend on and remain on that would come with a different kind of baptism. This Messiah would not simply baptize with water, but would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
This is exactly what happened. At the baptism of Jesus, John experienced the Trinity in a way that identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Christ.
[13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:13-17)
Notice here the kind of witness that John is being to this reality. John the Baptist is baring witness of the witness of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit’s testimony about the Son. This is being related by John the Author of the Gospel who is also writing this Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Application
Those who trust in Christ as Savior are immersed into the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at conversion. They are put into Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We still baptize by water, but it is a picture of what happens Spiritually to those who trust in Christ.
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:3-5)
We should trust in Christ as Savior because He is who is identified as the Messiah, the only begotton Son of God.
We should be baptized to fullfill all righteousness by being obedient to Christ and identified with Him.
We should live in the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells those who have been baptized by Him into Chirst.
Response
- Have you trusted in Christ?
- Do you bare witness of who He is to others?
- Are you being guided by the Holy Spirit and His Word?