John 1:33

John again underscores: 'I knew him not.' He did not have prior knowledge of Jesus' identity. But 'he that sent me'—the God who called John to baptize—gave him a sign to watch for. It was a promise, a commission, a word: 'Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he.' John was sent out into the wilderness with a task and a condition: baptize people for repentance, watch for one particular man, and when you see the Spirit descend on him and remain, you will know. That is the one. That is the Messiah. That is the one who will bring not the baptism of water but the baptism of the Holy Ghost. John was given authority, not on the basis of his own power or understanding, but on the basis of this promise. His entire ministry depended on trusting that when the right person came, he would know it by a sign from heaven. And he did. The sign was given. The promise was fulfilled.

The conclusion is the most magnificent: the one on whom the Spirit remains 'baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.' Jesus is not merely a good teacher or a moral reformer. He is a baptizer, one who imparts the Spirit. What John does with water is merely the shadow; what Jesus does is the substance. He does not sprinkle or pour; he immerses people in the presence and power of God's Spirit. He sets them afire with the Holy Ghost. All of John's water baptism points to this: the real baptism is not what John does, but what Jesus does. The Baptist has completed his testimony. He has seen, he has witnessed, he has pointed. And now the world must turn to Jesus and receive from him what only he can give: the gift of the Holy Spirit, the fire of transformation, the baptism that makes all things new.