WHAT IF?

I haven't blogged in awhile.  I have a list of things to blog about just haven't taken the time.  This post is going to be a little different from what I normally do.  We will see how well it goes over.

When Chris was growing up I used to call him my "what if child".  Because he was constantly full of questions.  And many times they would start with, "I know this could never happen in a million years, but just WHAT IF?"  As a young Mom it was exhausting, but when I see him analyze things now I see how God was molding and shaping him. As I read the bible, I see where maybe he got some of that from me.  When I read I am constantly thinking, how did that happen, what were they thinking, what was in their thoughts, what if I had been in that situation?

Sometimes I feel sacrilegious because I know in the grand scheme of God's plan my simple questions and observations really have nothing to do with salvation, or the big picture God has in store.  So, I usually keep my thoughts to myself.  I think I must be the only one who has these weird questions pop up when I am reading.  But maybe I am not the only one and you have them too just everyone is afraid to ask them.

For example, tonight I was reading in John 1 (the testimony of John the Baptist) and in verse 31 and 33 it says, "I myself did not know him".  I don't think he is meaning here that he didn't know Jesus.  They were some how related.  Luke 1:36 the angel says to Mary, "behold your relative Elizabeth (John the Baptist Mom), in her old age has also conceived a son (John).  So, Jesus and John were somehow related, maybe  second cousins.  Wouldn't it seem logically that at some point they had played together as little boys?

So, I think he knew who Jesus the man was, but he didn't know He was the Savior, the one he was waiting for.  But I believe that Elizabeth knew who he was so why didn't John?  Luke 1:42 tells us that John leaped in Elizabeth's womb when Mary greeted her right after finding out she was pregnant.  And Elizabeth said "blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  Verse 43 says, "and why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

So, Elizabeth knew but John didn't.  So, it must not have been talked about in the family circles.  Did they go up to the Feast of the Passover together when Jesus stayed behind to teach in the temple?  Were they all helping look for him in the caravan?  Did they not talk about his responds.  Luke 2:49, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Yet, it clearly tells us that John didn't know Jesus was Lord until he baptized him and the dove descended.  Was John waiting in anticipation every time he baptized someone?  Was he wondering is this the one, the messiah?  Was he shocked to find out it was Jesus?  This one he maybe grew up playing together with?  Did he chuckle and say really Lord?  I should have known he was always good, and never got into trouble.  Luke 1:34 John says, "and I have seen and have borne witness that this (Jesus) is the Son of God."

Why didn't he know, WHAT IF he had?  I think the answer to that, was that it was all in God's timing. Jesus' response to Mary his mother, at the wedding of Cana might give us some insight. When she asked him to turn water into wine his response in  John 2:4, "woman what does this have to do with me?, My hour has not yet come".  God knew the hour that Jesus ministry was to begin.  Maybe that's why it doesn't seem to appear to have been talked about at family gatherings or why John didn't know.  Maybe the answer to most of our WHAT IF questions, is simple God's Timing.