32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
Having been previously told what would happen; the Baptist recognizes and takes note with reflection and acute interest the Holy Spirit descending from heaven manifesting Himself in the form of a dove and abiding on Jesus. So certain was he of what his ears had been told and now his eyes beheld that John the Baptist exclaimed with great assurance:
34 “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34 (NIV)
It must certainly be overwhelming to experience what one has only been told and believed through faith and then subsequently been given the privilege to have sight thereof. At the end of Job we also find a similar situation where faith becomes sealed with sight and the creature laid low in the presence of his Creator:
1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:1-6 (NIV)
I am reminded also of Peter’s response to Jesus’ question to His disciples – “Who do you say I am?” – appearing in the gospel of Matthew:
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. Matt 16:16-17 (NIV)
Take note that, like the Baptist and Job, it was the Father in heaven who revealed this truth to Peter. Like Peter, it mattered not to John the Baptist that Jesus was not clad in external pomp and grandeur for he was not ashamed to confess freely that Jesus was God’s Son. The Baptist held a higher honor than the prophets who walked the dust before him in that they spoke of Him to come and he beheld Him already come.
“And it was necessary that John should thus show them the person, otherwise they could not have believed that one who seemed so insignificant should be he of whom John had spoken such great things. Matthew Henry
Just as the prophet Isaiah had prophesized:
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:2-5 (NIV)
John tells us that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John’s cleansing with water was one thing but the cleansing that would be produced by the Holy Spirit would be totally other. After His suffering and resurrection Jesus gave convincing proofs to His followers that He was indeed alive and commanded them to wait for the gift of the promised Holy Spirit. John identified people with himself through the baptism of water now Jesus would join the followers to Himself through the Spirit bestowing upon them His gifts and graces and comforts. This is a confirmation of the Baptist’s word “I baptize you with water. But after me comes one who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus brings great honor to John’s words by confirming the message of His servant. Jesus states in Act to His followers:
3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)