“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 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.” (Luke 3:21-22 KJV).
The water baptism of John the Baptist, which is total immersion in water as the Holy Bible demonstrated, is an act of spiritual cleansing and rebirth. When one immerses in water to be cleansed of the filthiness of old self and comes out of water as a renewed person is an act of commitment to walk in a new life. The Lord Jesus in submitting to John’s baptism was an act of identifying with humanity and all its sinfulness, even though He Himself was sinless. As John expresses reluctance to baptize the Lord, He persuades him to proceed, stating it is fitting for them both to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15). This is an act of humility and solidarity with humanity setting the stage for His redemptive work on the cross. As the Lord Jesus stepped into His mission being ushered by John the Baptist into full public knowledge, the windows of heaven were opened with the Father affirming His only Son He’s well pleased with for coming to save us. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a form of a dove descending on Him affirms that the Lord’s mission is the work of the triune God. In this sacred moment the presence of the Father's voice from heaven, the Son in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on the Lord, is manifest.
The act of baptism in water points to the Lord’s ultimate work of redemption - His death, burial and resurrection. As we submit to true baptism (not baptism to be part of a religion) by total immersion in water and coming out of water in newness, as the Lord Jesus did rising from the grave, we become united with the His death and resurrection. Apostle Paul reminds us with these words: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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