The Jesus Itinerary

[DeistPaladin]

That was not a greeting, it was an introduction to others, indicating John had met Jesus on a previous occasion.

OK, let's for the sake of argument accept your explanation.

The Gospel of John then says that he began to gather certain disciples the next day:

John 1:40-44 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

So Jesus called Peter and Andrew, who lived in Bethsaida, All this happened prior to the arrest of John the Baptist.

John 3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

This does not sync with the Synoptic accounts, which establishes that Peter and Andrew lived in Capernaum.

Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. [...]
Mark 1:29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

And they were called after the arrest of John the Baptist

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

Kind of a different story too, wouldn't you agree? In one case, one hears Jesus speaks and goes to tell the other. In the other case, they're fishing and Jesus greets them. And how did Peter find out Jesus was the messiah, again? John tells the story (above) about how his brother told him so. Yet, Matthew tells the story of how no man (or flesh) had revealed it to him but the father that was in Heaven.

Matt 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And then there's the temple tantrum at the beginning of his ministry (John) instead of at the end (Synoptics). There's the fact that JtB didn't have to be arrested first before Jesus started his ministry (John). Then JC even beats JtB at his own game (what a guy). Jesus bases his ministry around Jerusalem in John but around Galilee in the Synoptics, eventually making his way to Jerusalem. Jesus is the "I am" character in John's Gospel, baring little resemblance to the more modest and human character in the Synoptics. On and on it goes...

There's a reason the first three are called "Synoptic" (similar). John wrote a different story about a different Jesus.