John 1:33
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 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.
God who sent John to baptize with water told him beforehand that the one on whom he would see the Spirit come down and stay is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John did not know Jesus for certain as the Saviour, Messiah, and Lamb of God until that promised sign was given. The sign was fulfilled at Jesus' baptism when the Spirit came down from heaven like a dove and remained upon Him, with light and glory shining around Him and the Father's voice declaring Him the beloved Son. That resting dove with God's glory made Jesus known to John for certain as the Saviour of the world, the true Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. On seeing it John pointed to Jesus and publicly bore record of what he had seen and heard, directing people away from outward forms to Christ in whom their hope of eternal life is centered and whose greater work is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.
The Promised Sign
God who sent John to baptize with water told him beforehand the exact sign by which the Messiah would be known: the one upon whom he would see the Spirit descending and remaining is the same one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John came baptizing with water for the purpose that Jesus should be made manifest to Israel, and he did not know Jesus beforehand until that promised sign was given. He had not known for certain that Jesus was the Saviour, Messiah, and Lamb of God, but the Spirit resting upon Jesus revealed Him as the promised one.
John had no personal acquaintance with Jesus because Jesus had lived a humble and secluded life at Nazareth for thirty years with no special evidence of Messiahship. John knew the circumstances of His birth and believed Him to be the promised One, yet that seclusion suggested doubts whether He was the One whose way John was to prepare. He rested the matter in faith that God would make it plain in due time, for God had told him the Messiah would be pointed out by a distinct sign, and when the sign was given John was to present Jesus to the world as the long-expected Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His public ministry at the Jordan drew large crowds and the attention of the Jewish religious authorities, and there he baptized with water so that Jesus could be made known to Israel.
The promised sign was fulfilled at Jesus' baptism when the Holy Spirit came down from heaven like a dove, in the form of a dove and in the shape of a dove, and lighted, abode, and remained upon Jesus. Light and glory from heaven descended upon Him and the glory of God shone round about Him, angels hovered over the scene, and the Father's voice from heaven and from the cloudless heavens declared Him the beloved Son in whom He is well pleased and the Son of the Infinite Father. The heavenly Dove resting upon Jesus with God's glory shining around Him made Jesus known to John for certain as the promised Saviour, the true Messiah, and the Lamb of God.
Jesus came to John for baptism, and the signs of His holy life led John to feel unworthy to baptize Him. The sign and heaven's testimony at His baptism were perceived by only a few, while those whose hearts were hardened and whose understanding was darkened did not recognize the revelation. Some people saw the divine glory then, but later His worn appearance made Him difficult to recognize, while the memory of the heavenly voice and descending dove confirmed His identity as the Promised One.
Christ Proclaimed Through It
By the promised sign the verse identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the mightier One, the Saviour of the world, the Promised One of Israel, the true Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God who sent John to baptize with water had told him beforehand that upon whom he should see the Spirit descending and remaining, that same one is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and when John saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and abide upon Jesus he knew Jesus was that One and bore record that this is the Son of God. The heavenly Dove resting upon Jesus with God's glory shining around Him made certain that Jesus was the promised Saviour and the Lamb of God whom John then pointed out to the people.
This manifestation proves His Messiahship and gives reason for anxious ones looking for the Messiah to believe He is the Promised One. At His baptism light and glory from heaven descended upon Him in the form of a dove and remained on Him, while a voice from the cloudless heavens proclaimed Him to be the Son of the Infinite Father. John's testimony about what he had seen and heard gave his listeners and the Jewish leaders evidence that Jesus was the Son of God and the Christ, the Redeemer of the world.
On seeing the sign John pointed to Jesus, publicly proclaimed Him, and bore record of what he had seen and heard, crying Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. The promised sign was the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a heavenly dove and lighting and remaining upon Jesus at His baptism, with angels hovering over the scene and the glory of God shining round about Him and the Father's voice from heaven declaring Him the beloved Son. Philip heard John announce Christ as the Lamb of God.
John's preaching on the banks of the Jordan proclaiming Christ as the Promised One was heard by dispersed Jews from all civilized lands who were expecting the speedy advent of the Messiah. Those Jews had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts and went out to the Jordan to hear John, and there they heard Jesus proclaimed. On their return home they carried those tidings to all parts of the world, so that by Providence the way was prepared for the labors of the apostles in missionary fields like Corinth and Ephesus.
The verse presents Christ's baptizing with the Holy Spirit as the greater work foretold by John's preaching of repentance and baptism. John's message directed people away from outward forms and self-righteousness to Christ, in whom their hope of eternal life is centered. The scene at the Jordan also signaled that Christ opened lasting communication between heaven and earth, with angels connecting believers with the Father, carrying prayers upward and bringing hope, courage, health, and life.