Jesus’ Baptism
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. Matthew 3:16
Why did the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove after His baptism? The reason lies in Jesus’ title as the promised Christ. “Christ” in English means “the Anointed One.” The Holy Spirit came to anoint Jesus as God’s promised Savior as His ministry began, in accordance with God’s eternal plan and in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The apostle Paul writes of this eternal plan: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who chose us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians 1:3-4)
Isaiah prophesied with reference to Jesus and regarding His baptism: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Jesus was sent by the Father and anointed by His Holy Spirit to bring us the good news of our salvation—good tidings of forgiveness, healing, freedom, consolation, joy, praise, righteousness, life, and glory! May our lives reflect a growing confidence in Jesus—the Christ anointed by the Holy Spirit!
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the assurance that You have given us by sending Your Spirit to anoint Jesus and thereby to identify Him as Your promised Christ—our precious Savior. May Your Spirit abide within our hearts, so that we might always embrace Jesus by faith and with joy! Amen.