The life of Jesus · Matthew 3
The Baptism of Jesus
In the wilderness of Judea, John the Baptist preaches: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Dressed in camel’s hair, living on locusts and wild honey, he is the voice spoken of by Isaiah, crying in the wilderness. Crowds from Jerusalem and Judea come to confess their sins and be baptized in the Jordan. John announces one mightier than he, whose sandals he is not worthy to carry: that one will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Then Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized. John objects: “I have need to be baptized of thee!” But Jesus insists: it is proper to fulfill all righteousness in this way. As soon as he comes up out of the water, the heavens open, the Spirit of God descends on him like a dove, and a voice declares: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
What happens
- John the Baptist preaches repentance in the wilderness of Judea Matthew 3:1–3
- The crowds confess their sins and are baptized in the Jordan Matthew 3:5–6
- “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” Matthew 3:11
- John hesitates, but Jesus insists on being baptized Matthew 3:13–15
- The Spirit descends like a dove and the Father speaks from heaven Matthew 3:16–17
Who is in this story
The lesson
At the baptism of Jesus, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are revealed together: Jesus humbly stands alongside sinners, and the Father publicly declares him his beloved Son.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Quick quiz on this story
In which river does John baptize the crowds?
Confessing their sins, the people of Jerusalem and Judea were baptized by John “in Jordan.” Matthew 3:5–6
In what form does the Spirit of God descend on Jesus?
Coming up out of the water, Jesus saw the heavens opened and “the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.” Matthew 3:16
What does John the Baptist eat?
Dressed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, John’s “meat was locusts and wild honey.” Matthew 3:4
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