At our cell group last night we discussed the mystery of John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. The Baptist makes a bit of an odd comment in John 1: 31 He comments as he points out to several of his disciples Jesus strolling nearby, "I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." So what did he mean by this? Is he saying that he did not know Jesus before he started baptizing? The question spins on the meaning of "know". Of course we may sound like we are parsing out the definition of "is" but there is a quite important spiritual lesson to learn from this. The two most important Greek terms translated "know" in John are ginosko and oida. Ginosko and oida are nearly identical in their meaning but ginosko has more the sense of personal knowledge, the knowledge of intimacy. Oida has the sense of understanding, of "getting it". John was not saying that he had no idea who Jesus was. He was indicating what is quie important to recognize. He could not know Jesus, he could not get it about Him even if he watched Jesus every day unless the Spirit revealed to him who Jesus is. His own brothers apparently did not really know Jesus as indicated in John 7 because even then after so many miracles they did not believe in Him. You can be very close to God and the things of God and never know Him unless the Holy Spirit makes Him clear to you. That is why it is so painful for us to "grieve" the Holy Spirit. We cannot know Jeus without Him. Pray, "open my eyes Lord." There is so much to see that most of the world is missing. The biggest and maybe the only part to see is waiting for you. What do you know?
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