John 1:32-34

As I was looking at this exchange in the Apostle John’s account, it appears to me that it took place after Jesus returned from the wilderness. The Pharisees were giving John a hard time about baptizing, asking him whether he was the Messiah. John informed them that he was not, but that there was someone among them who was greater than he was.

The following day, John saw Jesus walking toward him and proclaimed, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Interestingly, John says that he did not know it was Jesus until he saw the Spirit of God descend upon Him at His baptism. So, although John knew Jesus in a natural and familial sense, it was not until that moment—when he baptized Him—that he realized Jesus was the Son of God.

In fact, even after John was later imprisoned, he still questioned this. He sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus whether He truly was the One, or if they should look for another, as Matthew records:

“John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This shows that doubts can arise even in those who have had profound spiritual encounters.

Yet the crux of the Gospel message centers on this very question: Who do we believe Jesus to be? Our answer to that question will determine our destiny. In the words of Jesus, God blesses those who do not fall away because of Him.