Growing Up With the Messiah (And Not Knowing It)
We all know the stories of Jesus’ family – His mother Mary, His earthly father Joseph, His brothers and sisters. But what about His cousin, John the Baptist?
We often picture John as this fiery prophet, shouting in the wilderness, but what if I told you he was also the man who grew up with Jesus, who knew Him as a child, and still didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah? That’s the powerful irony at the heart of John’s story – he knew Jesus as family, but not as the Son of God. And that’s exactly why his journey to recognize Jesus is so relatable and profound.
There’s something fascinating about John the Baptist’s story that really makes you think. Here was a man who knew his calling – he understood he was preparing the way for the Messiah, just as Isaiah had prophesied. He was literally the “voice crying in the wilderness.” But here’s the twist: he had no idea the Messiah was his own cousin, Jesus.
Think about that for a moment. John and Jesus were family. They’d probably grown up knowing each other, celebrating festivals together, sharing family meals. Yet John’s natural mind couldn’t connect the dots between his cousin and the promised Messiah.
A Recognition Beyond Understanding
What’s even more remarkable is that John’s spirit knew Jesus before his mind ever did. Way back when both were still in the womb, something incredible happened. When Mary (pregnant with Jesus) greeted Elizabeth (pregnant with John), baby John literally leaped for joy inside his mother. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, immediately recognized the significance of that moment.
The angel had already told John’s father, Zechariah, that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. So in a very real sense, John’s spirit recognized Jesus before either of them were even born!
Waiting for the Sign
Fast forward to John as an adult, baptizing people in the Jordan River. He knew his purpose – to prepare the way and reveal the Messiah to Israel. But God had given him specific instructions on how to recognize the Messiah: “Watch for the one on whom the Spirit descends and remains.”
That’s why John was out there baptizing in the first place. It wasn’t just about calling people to repentance – it was about creating the moment when the Messiah would be revealed. John was essentially setting the stage for God to point out His Son.
The Beautiful Irony
There’s something beautifully humble about this whole situation. John, who had been spiritually aware of Jesus since before birth, still needed God to show him who Jesus truly was. He didn’t rely on his own understanding or family connections. He waited for God’s confirmation.
When that moment finally came – when John saw the Spirit descending like a dove and remaining on Jesus – everything clicked into place. The cousin he’d known his whole life was revealed as the Lamb of God, the one who would take away the sin of the world.
It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes our spiritual understanding goes deeper than our natural knowledge, and that God reveals His truth in His perfect timing, not ours.
Conclusion
John the Baptist knew Jesus as a cousin, a childhood friend, someone he’d shared family meals with and probably heard about in the local gossip. But he didn’t know Him as the Lamb of God, the one who would take away the sin of the world. And that’s the beautiful truth of the gospel – God doesn’t require us to have perfect knowledge or understanding to be part of His plan. John didn’t need to know Jesus was the Messiah to prepare the way; he just needed to be obedient. And in that obedience, he was blessed with the incredible privilege of seeing the Spirit descend and hearing God’s voice confirm who Jesus truly was.