A Muslim researcher wrote a list of questions he thought proved there are contradictions within the Bible. Two of his questions centred around whether John the Baptist recognised the real identity of Jesus Christ at the time of His baptism.
- Did John the Baptist recognise Jesus before his baptism?
- Yes (Matthew 3:13-14)
- No (John 1:32-33)
- Did John the Baptist recognise Jesus after his baptism?
- Yes (John 1:32-33)
- No (Matthew 11:2-3)
Let’s examine the three scriptures used for this claim, in chronological order.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” (Matthew 3:13-14)
John the Baptist’s aunt was Mary, the mother of Jesus. Of course, John knew who Jesus was, and he had always recognized the Messiah, even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb by the Spirit. (Luke 1:44) “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leapt in my womb for joy.” When Jesus was coming to be baptised, John thought it was inappropriate for him to baptise the Messiah.
And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:32-33)
John the Baptist had received a prophecy and a sign from God, regarding the foundation of the sacrament of Baptism by our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. The sign was the descending of the Holy Spirit in a dovelike shape over our lord. After this, Baptism will not be only by water but by the Holy Spirit through Christ and for whom Christ is anointing for the priesthood (Matthew 28:19). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
Hence, John is stating the recognition and fulfilment of the sign. Yes, he’d known Jesus was the Messiah, yet it was not yet revealed to him that Jesus was the one who would baptise others by the Holy Spirit. John had been waiting for the sign of the Holy Spirit’s descent.
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3)
Long after Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist was in prison. As a man full of weaknesses and fear, he was low in spirit and had perhaps begun to doubt out of frustration. Why did Jesus not come to get him out of prison? That’s why Jesus sent his disciples to bolster him (Matthew 11:4-5) “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
There are no contradictions here. One only needs to read further.
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