The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, `After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." (John 1:29-34 RSV)
In these five short verses, St. John has an awful lot to say. He confers upon Jesus 5 different titles. He is "the Lamb of God". He is the one "who ranks before me". He is the one upon whom "the Spirit descended". He is the one who will "Baptize with the Holy Spirit." And finally He is "the Son of God." All of these are impressive titles. John has an exalted idea of who Jesus is and what his place is in the grand scheme of things.
But I keep thinking that there is something missing that John cannot supply or answer. What John believes about Jesus is important, for John. But there are questions that I only I may answer: 'Who is Jesus to me ?' 'What position, what titles do I grant to Him?' and 'Do my actions confirm the words of my testimony about Jesus?'
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