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About-Him Devotional 01-04-03
1st in a series on the life of Christ, following the Harmony of the Gospels found in the Thompson Chain Bible. We are beginning at Jesus' baptism and will continue until His ascension. The gospel harmonies attempt to place each event of the life of Christ in order and give the relevant scripture as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All of these devotionals will be posted on the About-Him website at http://about-him.com/devotionlink.html .
The Baptism of Jesus: Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:33
Luke 3:21 ¶ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 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.
John, the forerunner of the Lord, came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight." The Rabbin of that day were well schooled in Messianic scripture such as Psalms 2:6-7 and readily understood that the phrase "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" was an announcement of the Messiah. All of Judea and surrounding areas went to see John and hear him preach a message of individual and national repentance as a condition of entering the kingdom of heaven.
The people were convicted by John's fiery preaching. They confessed and repented of sin and John baptised them in water by immersion for the remission of sins, stated that another was coming Who would baptise them with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Jesus also came forward for baptism and John stated, "I have need to be baptised of thee and comest thou to me?" Jesus told John that it was necessary to fulfil all righteousness. As Jesus came out of the water, the heavens were opened to Him and to John (John 1:33). The heavens were opened was a Jewish idiom for revelation. A voice was heard from heaven giving approval of Jesus' sinless life ,
"Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Holy Ghost descended upon Him in the form of a dove and remained on Him, anointing Him for future ministry.
Obviously Jesus had no need to be baptised. He did so to give us an example and to set a pattern for entrance into the kingdom. When we are baptised in Christian baptism we are following this pattern: Confession, Repentance,and Baptism, with the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.
Next Week: The temptation of Jesus
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Humor
It was a terrible night, blowing cold and rain in a most frightful manner. The streets were deserted and the local baker was just about to close up shop when a little man slipped through the door. He carried an umbrella, blown inside out, and was bundled in two sweaters and a thick coat. But even so he still looked wet and bedraggled.
As he unwound his scarf he said to the baker, "May I have two bagels to go, please?" The baker said in astonishment, "Two bagels? Nothing more?" "That's right," answered the little man. "One for me and one for Bernice." "Bernice is your wife?" Asked the baker.
"What do you think," snapped the little man, "my mother would send me out on a night like this?"
Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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