THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Passage: Luke 3:15-23

Key verse: 22

NIV

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(A) might possibly be the Messiah.(B) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water.(C) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.(D) 17 His winnowing fork(E) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(F) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod(G) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.(H)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus(I)(J)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,(K) heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him(L) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(M) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(N)

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.(O) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,(P)

the son of Heli,

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 3:16 Or in
  2. Luke 3:16 Or in
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, (A)whether he might be (B)the Christ, 16 (C)John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but (D)he who is mightier than I is coming, (E)the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you (F)with the Holy Spirit and (G)fire. 17 His (H)winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to (I)gather the wheat into his barn, (J)but the chaff he will burn with (K)unquenchable fire.”

18 So (L)with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But (M)Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that (N)he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when (O)Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, (P)the heavens were opened, 22 and (Q)the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and (R)a voice came from heaven, (S)“You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”[b]

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

23 Jesus, (T)when he began his ministry, was about (U)thirty years of age, being (V)the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 3:22 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved
  2. Luke 3:22 Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. John preaches good news (15-20)

In those dark times people were eagerly waiting for the Messiah. John baptized those who repented of their sins, and he announced the coming of one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit drives out evil; he purifies and indwells repentant sinners. Jesus will come again to baptize unrepentant sinners with the fire of judgment. Herod did not repent.

2. Jesus' baptism (21-23)

Jesus was baptized by John, and the Holy Spirit descended on him. It was his inauguration as the Messiah. Jesus accepted his mission, and God was pleased. John's imprisonment casts the shadow of the cross on Jesus' ministry.

3. Jesus' genealogy (23b-38)

Luke's genealogy differs from Matthew's. Matthew starts with Abraham; Luke with Adam. Luke probably records Jesus' genealogy through Mary--he was especially sensitive to the role of women. Both tell us that Jesus is the promised son of David.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Spirit, who cleanses us and empowers us.

One Word: Believe the good news