Even though the story of John doesn't unfold until he is found in the wilderness eating locust and honey, we realize that he was important to the Christmas story. John was the cousin of Jesus! Because both of their childhoods are obscure in the word, we know they probably knew of each other but perhaps not exactly their purpose to each other.
"And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John;" and they marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed. He spoke, blessing God! Fear came on all their neighbors and these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea. All who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying; "What then will this child be?" For the hand of Lord was with him." Luke 1:63-66
The story of Elizabeth and John, in the middle of our Christmas story is important. Not only did it bring comfort to Mary to be able to share her story, her pregnancy and God's using her in this magnificent way, but it gives us a picture of John and the plan God had already established for his life. The plan that God would give us a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!
John's early life may be summarized in several sentences. 1) The hand of the Lord was with him (1:66); 2) He grew and became strong in spirit and he was in the wilderness till his manifestation (1:80); 3) He will be great before the Lord, and filled with the Holy Spirit (1:15). Later on when his ministry was coming to an end, he was imprisoned by Herod prior to his execution in A.D. 28. (Harper's Study Bible RSV 1971 comentary)
We know that John was the one to make straight His path; his ministry was prophetic; his main purpose was to preach about the coming kingdom; calling for repentance and confession of sins. Jesus said; "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist." Matthew 11:11a
Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem, moved to Egypt and then to Nazareth; John, who lived in the hill country and Jesus, probably didn't become acquainted until they were boys and perhaps off and on in their teen years. Because there is no mention of their having grown up together, I believe they knew about each other. Could be from their mothers and it could be from visits from time to time. John being 6 months older than Jesus, probably didn't start his ministry until he was 30. Jesus didn't start his ministry until he was 30. John only knew about Jesus., as his cousin.
John had been on the job for many months telling the people that there was one coming that was greater than he. "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said; "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29 John continues; "I myself did not know him, but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." John 1:31 The difference between John knew Jesus and John didn't know Jesus is that he knew this man was his cousin. It is possible they didn't have any contact with each other as adults.
However, I think John knew that Jesus was to be the Christ but did not know him when he began his ministry as the Christ. When John recognized Jesus, as the Lamb of God, we can only assume that the Holy Spirit revealed this to him at the appropriate time. John knew that he would decrease as Jesus began to increase and that time had come. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 12/15/09
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