This study is loosely based on the study More Like Jesus from Not Consumed.
Can you imagine being alive during this time?
People had waited for 400 years where God had been silent, yet they were still waiting for the Messiah. John the Baptist comes on the scene and begins teaching everyone of repentance. He teaches them of how they should live.
Then, Jesus comes and is baptized of John. People knew Him as the carpenter’s Son, Joseph’s Son. He was around 30 years old when this happened. They did not know He is the Messiah. As Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit comes upon Him as a dove and God’s voice comes from Heaven saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
“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.”
Can you imagine? This is the carpenter’s Son, someone they had known since they were all children. And yet, John comes preparing the way and fulfilling prophecy. Then, as Jesus is baptized, God speaks from Heaven. God was showing them that Jesus is the Messiah. They were likely expecting someone else to be the Messiah.
God had once again announced who Jesus is. He didn’t do it in kings’ courts, but at the river where people were being baptized.
How does this help us be more like Jesus? Remember who He is. Remember that He came to the ordinary people. He came for us. God is well-pleased with Him, His Son.
May we meditate on who Jesus is this week!
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