January 16, 2025
The Baptism of Our Lord - Part 4
Matthew 3:16
01/16/2025
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went
up from the water, and behold, the heavens were
opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.
(ESV)
Jesus came to John at the Jordan River to be baptized. In
this baptism, Jesus took upon Himself the guilt of all sins in
order to pay the price of our rebellion upon the cross. He
fulfilled all righteousness, He fulfilled the grace and love of
God, by His death and resurrection.
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up
from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to
him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove and coming to rest on him.
Jesus was anointed with the waters of the Jordan in His
threefold office of prophet, priest, and king. Jesus was
anointed with the Holy Spirit to affirm that He and His coming
sacrifice were acceptable to each of the Persons of the Trinity.
God imparted the Holy Spirit upon Jesus, upon His human nature,
as Jesus took up His task of redeeming you and me from sin,
death, and the power of the devil.
May we see the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus as the Holy
Spirit also descending on us in our baptism, giving us the faith
to trust fully in the One anointed to take away the guilt of our
sin. Amen.