John 1:29-34 ~ I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God

 

John 1:29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is He of whom I said, `After me comes a Man who ranks before me, for He was before me.' I myself did not know Him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel."

And John bore witness, 

"I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from Heaven, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him; but He Who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 

`He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' "

And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

1 Timothy 3:16 

Great indeed, we confess, 

is 

the mystery of godliness: 

 He was manifested in the flesh, 

 vindicated by the Spirit, 

 seen by angels, 

proclaimed among the nations, 

 believed on in the world, 

 taken up in glory.

 I watched a special on the 2,500 to 3,000 year old mummies found scattered in China. It was really well done, they documented the success and failure to obtain DNA from each mummy and told about the known history of each person. One was a 5 year old boy buried with beautiful blankets, woven with great care. The loss of the blankets to the family indicated how much the child was held in esteem. Another a young woman with beautiful skin clothing and jewelry. A man they thought might have been a king, buried with a horse. Everyone was surprised to find the DNA indicated a high level of travel, there was Eastern European, India and a blend of DNA from around the world.

Abraham traveling from Ur in Iran to Israel about 2,500 BC.

And his son Isaac and grandson, did not know their family.

It is human nature to come from the beautiful miracles of John the Baptist's birth and Jesus' to wonder how John can say, twice, he didn't know Jesus. 

Or Jesus came before John, when John is older. 

Jesus is the Word of God, with God, in the beginning of creation. Proverbs also tells us about the joy Jesus found in Creation. Jesus was... before John.

How and why didn't John the Baptist know Jesus - his cousin? 

Why can't we be more surprised by the rest of the 1st Chapter of John. Men meeting Jesus for the first time declared to each other "this is the Son of God" in both verse 41 and verse 49 of John 1. This is far more astonishing - Jesus has men leaving their way of life behind to become His disciples in a mere afternoon of listening to Jesus.

So why, why doesn't John recognize his cousin Jesus? 

It's pretty obvious when we add up what we know. 

It seems we must look at this question. John's parents were old when he was born. As people become very aged, they do not travel greatly. Traveling was difficult even for the young. John's parents lived 90 miles from Jesus. John surely heard, in his youth, about Jesus and the "funny circumstances" surrounding the quick wedding of pregnant, un-wed cousin Mary. When we see the Gospels record only cousin Elizabeth's support for Mary, we must also remember John the Baptist probably heard more of the rumors from more of the family - who are not remembered in the Scriptures.

So .... why didn't John recognize Jesus??? 

For the same reasons we didn't recognize Jesus until we invited Him to be part of us. Before we really knew Him: we heard about Jesus from other sources. Not all the sources were credible. Family (Church) is sometimes boring and the time it takes to get there and back is too long. Why put the effort into going when people aren't always nice? We missed the family get-togethers (Church) for so long, people hassle us about That too. If you don't remember the family stories correctly there is mocking. It's all a big tangle to sort out and we have other things to do.

Then, more importantly, it comes to the decision time. 

As John grew spiritually into God's plan for him, Jesus became important to him. John took the time to dwell and think about who Jesus is. God revealed not just family, a good man, but a Savior. John, bravely, and with certainty says, 

"And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

May the glory of the LORD 

endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in His works

Who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I will sing to the LORD 

as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth, 

and let the wicked be no more!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! 

Praise the LORD!

Abba, Father,

Live in our hearts

Help us honor Christ the Lord as holy

With you we will always being prepared to make a defense

for a reason for the hope that is in our soul, mind, heart

And with Jesus we will do this with gentleness and respect

With Your gift of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name, having a good conscience

give us good behavior in Christ Jesus.

Because of the Tender Love 

of the Most High

we will not cease to pray for our Loved ones,

for the people

 You have given us,

Pray with hope!

Ending

Bad weather experienced 

And

be good weather again.

Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.

Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great

 and 

grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner. 

Because we know our Father.

The Father of mercies

and God of all comfort.

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

Peace and the Joy God gives us.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

We are praying for 
NATIONS

to put

aside

Tyranny

and Cartels.

Abba,

We pray the impossible 

more Heaven 

on earth 

We can do absolutely nothing about Massachusetts killing babies.  Shake our heads at the horror of babies murdered. We can moan and cry and do absolutely nothing. And those babies will die badly.

 

Pray and make a path for these preborn children to LIVE.

To Know Your Love 

and

See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.

Life for preborn children. Human Beings. Babies.  Hoping for love and warmth to give and receive.  So many willing hearts and homes. Valid Adoption Agencies.  Hope for the biological mother, instead of a life of sadness.

The end of Abortion.

Asked why not affordable

Adoption.

Agree

LABOR
DAY

and the price of giving

birth

is and frequently 

and outrageously

and

unpatriotically

is

$50,000.

We pray

about

all

of these

valid 

true

concerns.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, b. March 270 – 6 December 343, Nicholas of Bari. Known as St. Nicholas. 

Pere Noel. Father Christmas. Santa.

If our Saint Nicholas 

buys 3 women out of being trafficked. 

We can certainly 

ask 

the mother to accept payment 

for bringing

God's Gift of Life 

into the world. 

Thy Kingdom come

Thy will be done

on earth

as it is

in Heaven. 

God our Creator, 

help everyone to share 

in the good gifts 

You have given to us. 

May those who lead 

the nations of the world be given wisdom. 

Especially we pray for Donald, 

our  President, 

You would fill him 

with all 

the gifts and blessings 

he must have to fulfill 

the solemn task before him. 

 Lord, in your mercy, 

hear our prayer.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and see more Joy.

Covered in God's Love,

President Donald Trump, the First Lady and their Family

Vice President JD Vance, the Second Lady and their Family.
All of Our Families.

The Presidential Team.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

The end of trouble surrounding this Post Plague.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Worldwide Peace

Prosperity and

Peace.

We pray that as a Nation,

as a Community,

as a Church,

as a Neighborhood,

we share what You would have us share.

Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.

Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great and

grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner. 

WITH

Thanksgiving for our household

to put the rabies shots behind us

And Good Health

Prevailing

on the Wings of Eagles.

For the big orange

boy cat,

he isn't feeling well.

All health,

he has seemed better

tonight.

We ask in the Name of Jesus Christ.

And in Jesus - this Hope, 

Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus

†