This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (31) And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. (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 thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost, (34) And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
There is somewhat very interesting from the simplicity and artlessness in which the Baptist relates the account of his knowledge of Jesus. It appears very plain from what is here said, that Christ and his servant John had never met until about the time of Christ's baptism. For we read that John was in the deserts until the day of his shewing unto Israel. Luke 1:80. And Jesus is said to have lived at Nazareth. Hence when Christ went to Jordan for baptism, John was then preaching in the wilderness of Judea. And John's account of his discovery of Christ, by the marks wherewith he was told he should know him, these were the only testimonies John received for the knowledge of his Lord. He that sent me to baptize, (said John), the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, (saith John), and bare record that this is the Son of God. Doth the Reader ask who sent John? Let him once more read the 6th verse of this chapter, (John 1:6) and probably he will be inclined to think with me, that it was God the Holy Ghost. There was a man (saith the Evangelist) sent from God, whose name was John. Reader! will you not feel increasing cause, as you pass on from one evidence to another, to bless God the Holy Ghost for the testimony of this man? Think, I beseech you, how that Almighty Lord hath watched, and is watching over the interests of his Church and people, in affording such a cloud of witnesses wherewith we are encompassed? Again I say, Blessed be God the Holy Ghost for the preciousness of such a testimony in the present day of a Christ-despising generation!