Knowing The Word in Luke 3:21-22

Jesus is Baptized

3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Comments

There really should have been two lines for John’s baptism. One for sinners and one for him who is without sin. Jesus joined the sinner’s line for baptism to identify with those he came to save: sinners. Even though he was without sin, he was to have all the sins of the world placed on him on the cross. In that sense, his baptism is a foreshadowing of what it to come at the cross.

The opening of heaven means a divine revelation will follow, that Jesus is the Son of God. All four Gospels mention the descent of the Holy Spirit as a dove. Luke is the only one who mentions it was after the baptism while Jesus was praying. God’s comments seem to be derived from Psalm 2:7 (“You are my Son”) and the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 42:1 (“my chosen in whom my soul delights”) and suggest that at the threshold of Jesus’ ministry he is thought to be both Son of God and Suffering Servant.

Application

Have you ever thought that because each Christian is in Christ, that when the Father says he is pleased with the Son, that he is pleased with you as well? How do you understand God’s delight in you?

Prayer

Father, as you delighted in Jesus, I thank you that you delight in me because of him. You give me this gift through grace and I accept it. Help me today to live as your child of grace, loving you and my neighbor as myself, by giving up myself to your service.