“AND I KNEW HIM NOT”
Contributed by A. C. Craig
The explanation of John the baptist’s repeated statements in John 1: 31, 33, “and I knew him not”, is in a way simple. It would have two parts. Firstly, John’s father and mother were both advanced in years, God reversing the course of nature in John’s case. (In the Lord’s case He dispensed with it. Although coming by woman, He did not come by the course of nature).
Therefore John, at the death of his father and mother would still be young. It is remarkable that at the end of Zacharias’s eulogy of the incoming Dayspring, immediately you have, “and he (John) was in the deserts until the day of his shewing to Israel” (Luke 1: 80), as if we are meant to understand that he was there at that time. He was there at once. It is not said that he was taken, or went, just that he was there.
Nothing is said about his knowledge of any kinsfolk, which he had both in the city of Judah and the hill country, and also in the farther off Nazareth where his mother’s kinswoman, Mary, then was. These circumstances, with no record in Scripture of John and Jesus ever having met, would add meaning to his statement, “and I knew him not”. God was reserving something better for him, that is, that his recognition of the Lord would be spiritual, not natural or circumstantial, and that would be the second and greater reason for his saying, “and I knew him not”.
John’s supreme moment came on the banks of the Jordan when he first and fully recognised the One of whom he himself was the messenger and forerunner,
having already been told, as he says, “He who sent me to baptise with water, he said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is who baptises with the Holy Spirit”. John triumphantly and ecstatically declares, “And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God”. Wonderful moment for him!—eclipsed and happy; his joy full! That was the moment when it was “us”—“it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3: 15)—on one bank of the Jordan maybe, but on the other bank John stands aside, no longer the forerunner, for the “mightier than I”, the One taking His place before him, is present. John is happy to decrease—not decline; there is no decline of John the baptist in John’s gospel. This is the supreme moment in his history; he was
‘rejoicing in heart’, content in the increase of Christ and to take his place as His friend—
wonderful privilege to be the friend of such a One, the Son of God!
In Psalm 19 the Sun rises higher and higher in the heavens, so the moon—Israel—and John its greatest and best representative (none greater born among women), gets paler, dimmer, fainter. ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’, but in it all rejoicing in heart; and when the Sun will reach its zenith, it will go off into heaven, taking the bride with Him. And He will have John have another supreme moment; he will be the friend of the Bridegroom still. When the hallelujahs resound in the courts above, John will be there—the Bridegroom will see to that.
He did not open the prison for John the baptist as He did for Peter and John, and for Paul, but He had this moment in mind for him—precious moment! “This my joy then is fulfilled”—
suitable friend for such a One as the Bridegroom and the bride. Moses and Elias were on the mount of glory; they
wrought miracles, but to be companions of the Christ in His glory—that was better. But
“John did no sign; but all things which John said of this man were true”, John 10: 41. Was there ever a more loyal and faithful heart? Who can tell the many whose hearts were affected, and attached to Christ, by John, right from page one of John’s gospel. But the Bridegroom knows every one. Ah! John must be there, the friend of the Bridegroom, who said, “He who comes from above is above all”. John will be there; Christ will want him there to behold His glory, and to see the bride resplendent in the glory of the Bridegroom. Precious moment for Christ—and for John!