Luke 3

To read this text, CLICK HERE

Luke 3:21-22, When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened  and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

This text, when John baptizes Jesus, marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.  This call to ministry was accompanied by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and confirmed by God’s voice from heaven.  It is a beautiful picture of the Trinity. 

What’s interesting and even a bit puzzling about this scene is that John’s baptism was one of repentance.  It was for sinners to come, repent, and be cleansed.  But Jesus was sinless.  He had no need of a sinner’s baptism.  And yet, he chose to go through the ritual.  Jesus sought to identify with the people he came to save.   Some of you will recall that we’ve been talking about the incarnation in our Advent sermon series, Take My Word.  Incarnation is a churchy word that refers to God coming to earth to become a human being.  It’s in the incarnation that Jesus becomes one of us.  Jesus goes to the people, identifies with them, and gives them a real-life demonstration of who God is and how much God loves them.  The baptism was simply the beginning.

Please be sure to read through all of chapter 3.  It’s worth spending some time reflecting on John the Baptist’s ministry as he prepares the way for his cousin, Jesus.  What must that have been like for John?

The chapter closes with a genealogy of Jesus.  Take a moment and read through this genealogy again, as well as the genealogy in Matthew 1.  What are the similarities and differences?  How does each author go about telling the story of Jesus’ family?

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are so thankful for the incarnation.  You chose to come to earth to identify with us in order for us to identify with you.  Thank you for you willingness to sacrifice all for us.  We love you.  More of you and less of me.  Amen.