Luke 3:21–22 (ESV) — 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when
Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and
a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
NOTE: This is where
Jesus is symbolically given authority. God the Father and the God the Holy
Spirit put their affirmation of approval on God the son. Just like the rabbis,
who require two other persons with authority, Jesus is acknowledged with
authority. Of course, God is sufficient in and of himself to establish his
authority. But God, in essence, follows the Jewish tradition. Likewise, the
baptism was not necessary, as John made it clear when Jesus came to him. But
Jesus came to fulfill the law with his life, not to abolish it. Baptism was
another step in fulfilling the law. He would abolish it with his death -- the
regulations and commands were nailed to the cross. We are no longer under the
OT law today. We live under grace and a new law, the law of Christ.
PRAYER: Father, we
don't appreciate the Jewishness of the gospels. We don't understand them as we
should. We interpret things in our western traditions. Open my eyes to those
mistakes. Help me to see and understand the scriptures from your point of view.
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