It seems John baptised thousands of people. Today we read about one of those baptisms, which was in many ways just like all the others. But in one crucial way, it was stunningly unique.
Read Luke 3:21
One of us
• Who was baptised (v 21)?
John’s been pointing to the arrival of the Christ—and here He is!
• Remember what baptism by John in the Jordan shows—why is it strange that Jesus the Christ would need to get baptised?
Why did Jesus get baptised? The clue is in verse 21—He was baptised along with “all the people”. Jesus, though sinless, was humbly identifying with sinful humanity and our need for cleansing. At the start of His ministry Jesus shows that He is willing to put Himself in the shoes of His rebellious, exiled people: towards the end, He will take the punishment for their rebellion to end their exile. Read 1 Peter 3:18
One of them
• What happens during Jesus’ baptism, while He’s praying?
• Who is Jesus?
• How does the Father feel about Him?
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APPLY
• Do you share the Father’s verdict of Jesus? Is He the One you recognise and treat as God the Son? Is He the One you love, above all others?
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Curtain pulled back
In these verses, the curtain between heaven and earth is pulled back, and we get a brief but breathtaking glimpse of God Himself. We see that God is Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit. And we see how they love and help each other: the Father
loves and affirms the Son; the Spirit comes from the Father to the Son to equip Him for His mission; the Son comes to earth to identify with and eventually to die people, to save a people to worship His Father for ever.
We’re not told how “all the people” (v 21) reacted to this glimpse of the divine, loving Trinity at the heart of reality; but surely we, as we read about Him, can only marvel, praise and wonder.
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PRAY THRU
Why not do that now? Praise God— Father, Son and Spirit—for who He is.
And thank the Son for coming to bring His people the Spirit (v 16), so that we might experience the loving, serving life of the Trinity.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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