Before we answer this question, let’s take a look at the relationship between John and Jesus. The Bible tells us that John knew that his ministry was only preparing the way for the Messiah (John 1:23). But at the same time John mentioned twice that he wasn’t certain as to who the Lamb of God was going to be (verses 31, 33).
Jesus and John were related to one another through their mothers (cousins) (Luke 1:36). John lived most of his life wandering the hill country of Hebron (Luke 1:80) while Jesus lived more than 50 miles away in the region of Nazareth. Because of this, they most likely did not have very much personal contact with each other.
On the day of Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit of God convicted John that the person approaching him was indeed the Messiah and John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:13-14, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?’” The Bible then informs us why the Son of God needed to be baptized. Jesus answered J ...
