John 1:31

"This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’"

Key Reflection

John the Baptist declared that though Jesus came after him in time and public ministry, He was spiritually and eternally superior because He existed before John and before all creation. This statement underscores Jesus' preeminence and divine nature, despite His humble entrance into human history.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 31. I knew him not. John was not personally acquainted with Jesus. Though they were remotely related to each other, yet it seems that they had had heretofore no personal acquaintance. John had lived chiefly in the hill country of Judea. Jesus had been employed with Joseph at Nazareth. Until Jesus came to be baptized (Mt 3:13,14) , it seems that John had no acquaintance with him. He understood that he was to announce that the Messiah was about to appear. He was sent to proclaim his coming, but he did not personally know Jesus, or that he was to be the Messiah. This proves that there could have been no collusion or agreement between them to impose on the people.

Related Verses

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