[column parallax_bg=”disabled” parallax_bg_inertia=”-0.2″ extended=”false” extended_padding=”true” background_color=”#e1e4e1″ background_image=”” background_repeat=”” background_position=”” background_size=”auto” background_attachment=”” hide_bg_lowres=”false” background_video=”” vertical_padding_top=”0″ vertical_padding_bottom=”0″ more_link=”” more_text=”” left_border=”transparent” class=”” id=”” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” width=”1/1″ last=”true”]
[column_1 width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
Read Luke 3:21-38 every day this week. This is the account of the baptism of Jesus and His ‘family tree’. This is going to be a tough ask, but each day this week, if possible, choose a different translation and ask God to open your eyes to new revelation from His Word. Look at each name in the list and if you have the time, look them up in a concordance and see if there is any other biblical information about them.
[/column_1]
[/column]
[divider type=”1″]
[/divider]
[column width=”1/1″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]
Luke 3:21 (NIV)
“When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened”
I absolutely love baptismal services and I don’t think I’ve ever been to one where I don’t feel the desire to get in the tank myself and get baptised again! There’s just something amazing about the spiritual and physical acts combining into one glorious testimony to the greatness of God.
One baptismal service I went to was distinctly memorable for the wrong reasons. One pastor was baptising his nephew and they had quite a familiar attitude to each other and were always ‘playing off each other’. So, when the time came for the nephew to be immersed, the pastor prayed a short prayer and then proceeded to hold the poor lad under the water for what seemed like minutes. While doing so, the pastor stated that there was “a lot of stuff to be buried and this could take some time!” It was all done in a very light hearted manner and I’m not entirely sure that I approve of it, but the nephew eventually was allowed to surface and was led breathless from the tank. I don’t know what his thoughts were but I think they were probably very different to what we read in the verses today.
This huge, momentous occasion was the public commencement of Jesus’ ministry and marked a distinct shift from John’s ministry to that of the Saviour. Luke doesn’t even mention John’s name in this passage and this further emphasises the transition from the forerunner to the Anointed One. From this point on, it was all about Jesus. There’s a great lesson for us in that short statement. How many times do we attempt to take credit for something when it is God that should be getting the glory? Luke wasn’t going to detract from the main event by even mentioning John’s name.
Jesus was baptised and immediately after the baptismal, He stood there praying. I remember my baptismal and I didn’t stand to pray afterwards. I’m certain that the lad in our story earlier didn’t either! Jesus’ focus was clear. He lived a life of complete and total dedication to the will of His Father. Whatever the circumstance, His first thought was heavenward. Throughout His ministry we see this pattern of behaviour that is clearly based on an unshakeable foundation. He always prayed and God always heard Him. Jesus said precisely that one occasion in John 11 – “I know that You always hear me”.
The next phrase is remarkable also – “heaven was opened”. I’m not suggesting that the clouds will part every time we pray, but I firmly believe that very often, we don’t hear from God because He doesn’t hear from us! During your devotional time this morning, ensure that you raise your voice to God and in faith believe that heaven will open and that your prayer will be heard.
[/column]