"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
In today's quote, Jesus appeared to John the Baptist for the first time. Upon seeing Jesus, John immediately recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah in the flesh, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God".
It is important to note, once again, that John made a point of saying that he was ONLY sent to baptize (cleanse) the lost Jews with water, whereas Jesus was sent to baptize (cleanse) all lost souls with the Holy Ghost. We should remember also that Christianity, as we know it today, could not be taught before Jesus had completed His sacrificial ordeal and returned to the Father in heaven. Therefore, the water baptisms that John the baptist performed were simply physical cleansing rituals administered according to Hebrew law as they were required of all Jews before entering into any religious service, or practice.
More on this subject will appear in these lessons as they progress.~
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