Jesus...leading the way.
Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Encouraging Words...
Wow! These short two verses are packed with so much of our teachings in the church. Jesus does not need baptism, but in doing so He accomplished many things: 1) He affirmed John's ministry as the forerunner; 2) God, the Father, proclaimed Him as His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit confirmed that; 3) He gave us, His children, the example of being baptized; 4) He prefigured His own death, giving baptism its true meaning; 5) He sanctified the waters by entering them and preparing them for our baptism; 6) He fulfilled so many of the types in the Old Testament pointing to Him (Moses and the Red Sea, the ark crossing the Jordan, and many others); and 7) He opened heaven to our world, which had been separated from God through sin. This event was also the greatest and clearest public manifestation of God as Trinity in human history. But of great importance to us a followers of Christ, the words spoken by the Father also apply to us who are baptized in Christ and who live our lives faithfully, as our sonship is bestowed through our adoption into His family. "You are my beloved son/daughter, in you I am well pleased." Glory be to God!
When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Encouraging Words...
Wow! These short two verses are packed with so much of our teachings in the church. Jesus does not need baptism, but in doing so He accomplished many things: 1) He affirmed John's ministry as the forerunner; 2) God, the Father, proclaimed Him as His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit confirmed that; 3) He gave us, His children, the example of being baptized; 4) He prefigured His own death, giving baptism its true meaning; 5) He sanctified the waters by entering them and preparing them for our baptism; 6) He fulfilled so many of the types in the Old Testament pointing to Him (Moses and the Red Sea, the ark crossing the Jordan, and many others); and 7) He opened heaven to our world, which had been separated from God through sin. This event was also the greatest and clearest public manifestation of God as Trinity in human history. But of great importance to us a followers of Christ, the words spoken by the Father also apply to us who are baptized in Christ and who live our lives faithfully, as our sonship is bestowed through our adoption into His family. "You are my beloved son/daughter, in you I am well pleased." Glory be to God!
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