Did John know that Jesus was the Messiah or not?

Did John know that Jesus was the Messiah or not?

In the gospel of John, John the Baptist declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. In the passage found in the first chapter of the book of John it is very clear that John the Baptist believes Jesus to be the Messiah.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 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. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

However, Matthew records John as questioning if Jesus is in fact the Messiah, or should they look for another.

Matthew 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

So did John know that Jesus was the Messiah or not?

This is actually really straightforward to answer.

John the Baptist clearly believed that he was the one who came before the Messiah, leading the way. John the Baptist was baptising for the remission of sins. When the Pharisees asked who he was, he replied he was the one crying in the wilderness,

John 1-:22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

As John states this was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

He clearly declares Jesus to be the Lamb of God in John.

However, John the Baptist clearly also believed Jesus to be the one who was to take away the sin of the world. Just like the rest of the Jews, he understood the Messiah to be the triumphant King and not the suffering servant.

John, after he had been cast into prison heard about the works that Jesus was doing. He sent 2 of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah or should they look for another.

Matthew 11: 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

This is also recorded in the gospel of Luke

Luke 7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

It was clear John had heard of what Jesus was doing and was unsure as to why the kingdom that he himself had been preaching was close,  had yet to come. He had doubts as to whether Jesus was who he had believed him to be dur to the fact Jesus didn’t seem to be fulfilling the role of the Messiah that John had proclaimed him to be.  So he sent his own followers to confirm was Jesus the Messiah he had been shown he was (through the spirit descending like a dove). 

Jesus then tells the disciples of John to go back and tell him of the things that He, Jesus, was doing and had done. Jesus confirmed that he was that one that was to come. 

Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Jesus, after sending them away, also confirms that John the Baptist was indeed the one who came crying in the wilderness as prophesied by Isaiah. The one who would come before the Messiah.

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luke 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John the Baptist believed Jesus was the Messiah but having preached the coming of the kingdom, having seen the spirit descend on Jesus yet now imprisoned and seeing that the kingdom he had preached seemingly not having come, John simply asked for confirmation from Jesus that he was the one.

We have to remember John was just a man. We see moments of doubt and questioning throughout the Bible. 

Thomas doubted that the Messiah he had followed for 3 years was risen. 1 week before Jesus was crucified the Jews were hailing their King.  The Israelites were led by God out of Egypt having seen many miracles and of course the parting of the sea, yet were wishing they were back in Egypt and building a golden calf not long after.

The need for confirmation by John that Jesus was the Messiah he believed him to be is not a contradiction nor does it demonstrate that the gospel of John is at odds with the synoptics.

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