Advent: 4 Days to Go

In this installment of our Christmas adventure, the baptism of Jesus...

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
--Matthew 3:13-17 KJV Bible


9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
--Mark 1:9-11 KJV Bible


21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
--Luke 3:21-22 KJV Bible

Jesus began His public ministry by coming to John to be baptized. Though Jesus was without sin, He wanted to identify Himself with John’s message of righteousness. Following His baptism, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, providing special power for Jesus’ public ministry. The events described in these passages are the first public presentation of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit--the Trinity.

Luke described the descent of the Holy Spirit by comparing it to a dove. At that time, the dove was used as a symbol for all types of virtue. In His later ministry, Jesus instructed His disciples to be as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

Next time, Jesus is tempted by Satan...

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