80
Were Jesus and John related?
Luke: They were, their mothers being cousins ([i, 36]).
Mary had visited the mother of John, and each was acquainted with the character of the other’s child. John before his birth is declared to have recognized and acknowledged the divinity of the unborn Jesus ([Luke i, 41–44]). Yet, according to the Fourth Gospel, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry John said, “I know him not” ([i, 33]).
81
When Jesus desired John to baptize him, what did the latter do?
Matthew: “John forbade him saying, I have need to be baptized of thee” ([iii, 14]).
According to Matthew, John was not only acquainted with Jesus, but cognizant of his divine mission, which cannot be harmonized with his statement in the Fourth Gospel.