As soon as Jesus was
baptized, he went up out of the water.
At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and lighting on him.
And a voice from heaven
said,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Then Jesus was led by
the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 3:16-4:1
Time has passed
since we last heard of Jesus. He was a
twelve year old boy, sitting at the feet of the Rabbis asking questions. (Luke 2:41-52) Now around the age of thirty, Jesus’ ministry begins when John
baptizes Him.
Mathew gives us
a little glimpse into the scene that took place at the Jordan River. People had traveled long distances to hear
John preach. To show friends and family
their inner choice to repent, they stepped into the water and John dunked them
down, baptizing them. Then Jesus stepped
up. John and Jesus knew one another. They were related and had probably played
together as children. Baptism is an
intimate experience. You step close to
the pastor who holds you in an embrace.
You give up control as the pastor leans you back into the water and
dunks you under. The strong arms of the
pastor lift you up as the water rolls off your body. John was reluctant at first. He knew Jesus was the Son of God, the
promised Messiah. In that intimate space
where they were eye to eye John looks at Jesus and says, “I need to be baptized by you.”
I can feel John’s
discomfort. John knew he needed the
promised Savior just as all the people at the river did. Jesus put John at ease with a confident reply
of “This is right.”
As John pulled
Jesus out of the water everything changed.
Heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and
landed on Jesus. Then a voice came from
heaven and said , “This
is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Jesus was no longer
a baby in a manger or a young boy sitting at the feet of the Rabbis. Jesus was now an adult beginning His
ministry.
The very next
thing that happens is a response to the Holy Spirit. “Then
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.” This concept really
struck me. When the Holy Spirit enters
our lives He is not inactive.
Immediately the
Holy Spirit led Jesus in a direction.
Jesus started His ministry here on earth with the power of the Holy
Spirit directing His actions. Jesus
followed where the Spirit was leading even though it was a very difficult
place, the desert. It is vital to
follow. Jesus did not know what would
happen over the next forty days. Jesus
had to trust that just as the Holy Spirit was leading Him to the desert the
Holy Spirit would also give Him the strength and power to face whatever was
before Him.
Have you felt the Holy Spirit pulling you in a certain
direction?
Do you trust the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and
power to sustain you as you follow?
But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and
Samaria,
and to the ends of the
earth.
Acts 1:8
Jesus ended His
time on the earth by giving the Holy Spirit to His followers. In His last words recorded in Scripture,
Jesus says the Holy Spirit will give us power to complete an action - to be
witnesses of Jesus throughout the world.
I encourage you to take time to be quiet and listen to where the Holy
Spirit is leading you. Believe that the
Holy Spirit will give you the power promised to complete the task.
“Not by might nor by power,
but by my “Spirit,”
says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah 4:3
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