Jesus’ Baptism: Gospel Comparative
Luke 3:21-22
The Baptism of Jesus
21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Mark 1:9-11
The Baptism of Jesus
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
John 1:29-34
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Why did Jesus get baptized? Was it really necessary?
Did John & Jesus really hear an audible voice? See Psalms 2:7, Isaiah 42:1, Hebrews 1:5
Was there ever a time when God spoke aloud? See Matthew 17:5, John 12:28
What did the dove represent?
Look back at Luke 3:21-22, Jesus voluntarily joined the national back-to-God movement that was led by John the Baptist.
Look closer, Luke makes several essential points in these 2 passages.
1. Willingness to submit to others regardless of your social status
2. Engage in purposeful prayer, knowing God hears and answers
3. The descending of the Holy Spirit upon God’s true children
4. God’s pleasure, blessing and public acknowledgement is available to all that have faith
Each of these gifts are given to those that openly and totally, surrender to the Father’s will.
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