As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1: 10-11 (NIV)
Jesus had kind of an unusual baptism. Through it, though, we can learn much about why we should follow Jesus’ example and be baptized. This devotion looks at Jesus’ motivations to be baptized and heaven’s response.
Cliff Notes
- God expects believers to be baptized.
- Jesus honored John the Baptist and his ministry by coming to him for baptism.
- The 100% God part of Him did not need baptism; the 100% man part of Him did because, as a human, His relationship with God was broken.
- Baptism prepared Jesus as our high priest for His ministry to begin.
- God opened the heavens and drew near to His Son.
- The Holy Spirit took the form of a dove, a symbol of love and peace as well as being a messenger, because that is the role He plays in the Trinity.
- God ensured all those witnessing the event knew that He loved and was proud of His Son.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus thought when He was coming out of the Jordan River and saw heaven opening up and that dove floating down? You have to realize this was probably the first time in a long time that He had gotten a glimpse of home.
But on this special day, He’s saw dear ol’ Dad. He saw what He had given up – so different from what He had here on earth and what was coming down the pike.
Let's Put It into Context
Jesus was around 30 years old. I read that this is usually the age when Levites began their ministry. It is estimated that the year was AD 28. It wasn’t recorded where the exact location was. Tradition has it at Succoth or near Jericho. All we know for sure is it was at the Jordan River.
This was Jesus’ first public appearance. Before this, He had been living in Nazareth. It was a little hole-in-the-wall place that was snuggled in the hills. It was secluded, and the paths getting there were difficult to navigate. It is said to have been very picturesque.
Just think. Out of that solitude and ordinary lifestyle came the Messiah. Everything was going to change because He was stepping into the public spotlight.
Why'd He Do It?
Sometimes, we ask the question, if Jesus didn’t sin, why would He be baptized? There are several reasons.
The obvious reason is God expected it. If God expected it, Jesus was going to do it because He was obedient to God. Jesus would perform all the ceremonies and follow all the laws that God had given to man.
To read What Is the Significance of Jesus Observing Passover?, click the button below.
Jesus was obedient. He didn’t say, “Oh, I am the Messiah. I don’t need that noise.” He wasn’t the first to be baptized; He wasn’t the last. He showed, however, the importance of submitting humbly to God’s Will. He was publicly saying He was against sin.
Think of the honor that it was for John. Yes, he had to be talked into baptizing Jesus. We don’t minister for recognition by others. But this is God recognizing how John had prepared the way for Jesus.
Jesus is our example. Think about it. Yes, He was spotless, but He is in human form. Humans are sinners because of Adam and Eve’s original sin. Their relationship with God was broken. We can’t earn our way into Heaven by just doing good. The 100% divine side still had the relationship with God and didn’t need baptized; but the 100% man side didn’t and sure did need baptism.
One thing I hadn’t thought of before before I was researching this was what happened when the Levites took office as priests. Exodus 29: 4 says, “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the sacred tent and have them wash themselves” (CEV). Jesus has been called our high priest (Heb. 4: 14). He was getting ceremonially washed before his ministry began.
What if we viewed Jesus’ baptism as His coronation? Remember, the sign on the cross read, “… This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Mt. 27: 37 CEV). But He never got the ceremony. Here, He got the affirmation.
The Miraculous Events
Yes, Jesus was an example saying we need to be baptized when we admit, believe, and confess. No, it wasn’t your typical baptism. Three unusual things happened: the heavens opened up, the dove cane down, and a voice was heard. In this section, we are going to focus on the first two.
Jesus saw the heavens open up. This hadn’t happened previously in the Bible. In fact, we only read of it happening one other time — when Stephen was stoned (Ac. 7: 56).
Think what that says to us — beyond the “this is My Son” part, which we will talk about later. What is happening? Jesus was obeying; God was drawing near.
We don’t read of Jesus praying, “Oh, Father. Let me see Your face one more time.” Scripture reads that God initiated this contact. He’ll do the same with us.
The Holy Spirit came down as a dove. We think of doves being symbols of love and peace. We think of them as being messengers.
Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit is? John 16: 13 says, “When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come” (GNT). The Holy Spirit tells us the message that God has given Him.
God’s Response
I’m sorry. More times than not, I tear up when I read this. It is so touching to me.
Yes, Jesus was a Man. Yes, He was in the prime of His life. Yes, it was the first time He had moved out on His own.
But Jesus’ Daddy said He was proud of His Son! Jesus heard the words with His own ears. He heard the love and affection.
It didn’t matter that Jesus was in human form. God loved Him — human frailties and all. I bet it hurt when He hit His thumb with a hammer. We know His heart hurt when Lazarus died (Jn. 11: 35). But God verbally said —in front of witnesses — that He was pleased with His Son.
Validation means a lot to us. Encouragement means the world to us. Jesus got that on that day.
What Does This Mean?
Here Jesus was ready to begin His ministry – kind of like our graduating from high school or college, ready to start our jobs. And here comes this bird and this booming voice. “I’m proud of You, Son.”
Think of what Jesus must have felt. After 30 years of silence, this validation. Man, that started his ministry on a positive note.
If we were Jesus, for some, having God show up at our baptism that way would be a kick. Some of us don’t like being reminded what we have loved and lost. That is especially true when it is something as wonderful as heaven.
That thought never took traction in Jesus’ mind. Oh, I bet Satan slipped it in there a time or two. Jesus had to choose to be the Lamb.
Jesus was obedient to God — and He was rewarded. Philippians 2: 5-7 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (NASB).
How Do We Apply This?
We don’t exist in the form of God, but of what can we empty ourselves? Paul tells us what to get rid of in Galatians 5: 19-21, Ephesians 5: 3-6, and I Corinthians 6: 9-10 (and this is just a partial list): sexual immorality, impurity, homosexuality, idolatry/covetousness, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, greed, drunkenness, filthiness, and all impurity.
Unfortunately for us, there are no doves and resounding pronouncements to tell us we’re on the right track. Sometimes is it really hard for us to hear God when He is talking to us. This is especially true when the devil is dropping hints that are the exact opposite to what God wants us to do.
Oooo baby. The devil will do that.
We should focus on God and how we can be obedient to Him. He may be calling us to baptism or joining a fellowship of like-minded believers. We should be following His ordinances and commandments.
We should resolve to strengthen our commitment to God. That will take reflection and evaluation of where we are at in our walk with Him.
We need to keep setting our eyes on God. We need to keep looking to Him for guidance and direction. We need to work on our relationship with Him. We need to clean out the clutter so we can hear His still, small voice. Because when we do that, the still, small voice will be perfectly audible.
Our Father. We keep telling ourselves that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1, KJV). We get hung up on evidence if it is not seen. Most of the times we know the issue lies with us. You are always with us. It is us that is not seeing. That may be because You have clouded our eyes for the time being. Help us to focus on You. Help us to build our relationship with You. Help us to resist Satan. Amen.
What do you think? When was the last time that God came near to you? When was the last time you felt the Holy Spirit performing his job as messenger?
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