So, Jesus knew John long before the events of Matthew 3 unfolded.
Matthew 3 (KJV) – In those days came John
In addition, Jesus knew John because they were cousins.
Jesus had been preparing for his mission his entire life.
Unlike the other children of Joseph and Mary, he alone was born to a virgin.
Both of his parents claimed that angels had visited them to announce that he was a special blessing from God.
Of course, all of the neighbors also told him the same story, that he was the son of God, born to his virgin mother.
So, from his earliest years, Jesus took a keen interest in religious studies and practices.
He prayed and delved into the scriptures and made himself into the saintliest person that he could be.
And his fair complexion was also without blemish, no moles or freckles of any kind.
John knew Jesus from their childhood.
John recognized the deeply religious power that he had.
Both of them knew the scriptures.
Both of them knew the prophecies.
Both of them knew the sacrifice that the wicked priests and rabbis of Judah had devised to make the appearance of the Messiah impossible.
And yet, both of them knew that Jesus was the One.
And so, John baptised Jesus.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him.
And a voice spoke from heaven,
‘This is my Son, the beloved; my favor rests on him’” (Matthew 3:16-17)
Matthew 3 (KJV) – And Jesus, when he was
It should be noted that in the original Greek translation, the word, pais, has a double meaning of both “son” and “servant.”
Strong’s Greek: 3816. παῖς (pais) — Child, servant, boy, girl
That Jesus was a “servant of God” became confused at an early time with a “son of God” because of this dual meaning of pais.
However, he always referred to himself as a “Son of Man,” which brought the proper focus to his own humanity.