"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 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."
Today's lesson is a short one, and unlike the New Testament accounts of Jesus' life as related by Matthew and Mark, Luke's writing about the ritual water baptism (cleansing) of Jesus occupies much less New Testament space. However, the most important parts of Jesus' baptism are also written here in Luke's account.
We should note that after Jesus had risen from the baptismal water, the Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove and God said, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.".
This is important to remember because, up until Jesus had been immersed in flowing water (baptized), as per Jewish law and tradition, He had not begun His divine ministry. He could not because He had not yet been empowered by the Holy Ghost.
This is important to remember because, up until Jesus had been immersed in flowing water (baptized), as per Jewish law and tradition, He had not begun His divine ministry. He could not because He had not yet been empowered by the Holy Ghost.
The ministry of Jesus could not, and would not, begin until after he had fulfilled the requirements of the Law of Moses by being ritually cleansed (baptized in water), receiving the Holy Ghost, and recognized as the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus was not baptized to become the Son of God, He was baptized so as to be recognized as the Son of God. He was baptized under Jewish law and tradition because He was the virgin born Son of God in a Jewish man's body and was bound to obey the Law of Moses.~
No comments:
Post a Comment