The Baptism of Jesus
Jesus’ baptism is recounted in every gospel and is a significant moment in the life and ministry of Jesus.1
John 1:29, 32-34 says,
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’…And John bore witness: I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The Significance of His Baptism
Here are a few things that I find significant about this passage that tell us more about Jesus:
Jesus is the Lamb of God. This connects Jesus to the passover lamb, which will be reflected in Jesus’ death on the cross and the final sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.
The Holy Spirit reveals who Jesus is to John. John the Baptist finally understands the fullness of his own ministry through Jesus. It is only after he sees the dove descend on Jesus that he knows who it is that he had been preparing for.
Jesus has come to baptize with the Holy Spirit. When we are baptized in Christ we are born into new life with the Spirit.
Jesus is the Son of God. A significant statement for its trinitarian purposes but also because, the other person who was referred to as the son of God, was Adam.2 Jesus came as the new Adam and would ultimately right what had been wronged.
Jesus and the New Kingdom
One final significant aspect of Jesus’ baptism is that it occurred in the Jordan River, where Joshua had led the Israelites through on dry ground to enter into the promised land.3 Jesus’ emergence from these same waters in baptism is a sign that he would deliver God's people into the new promised land—the kingdom of heaven.4
Preparing Our Hearts
Jesus’ baptism shows us again how the Holy Spirit was at work. This time, taking on the form of a dove to confirm who Jesus was to all who were present, especially confirming John’s faithful proclamations. John prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry and now we open our hearts to look at it for the next few days.
Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:15-22 and John 1:19-34
Luke 3:38
Joshua 3
Matthew 4:17