Behold the Lamb of God!
Luke 3 offers some powerful lessons, and even if you’re not fond of genealogies, they are included for a reason. With only 38 verses, this chapter packs a punch, with some significant events taking place, including:
Major Themes:
- John the Baptist Prepares the Way
- John Preaches to the People
- John Baptizes Jesus
- The Genealogy of Jesus
Our Encouraging Verse: Luke 3:22
“And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am [well] pleased and find delight.” (AMPC)
The Context:
John the Baptist was sent as the forerunner to his cousin Jesus. In verse 3, we read: “the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” While we aren’t told exactly what those instructions were, they propelled him to start preaching repentance. He fulfilled the prophecy spoken in Isaiah 40:3-5.
Despite calling some “brood of vipers” (have mercy), people flocked to hear his message and be baptized. His words and instructions were so powerful that some even wondered if he was the Christ! But John was quick to assure them that he was not. He baptized many in Bethabara, and in the Gospel of John, he acknowledges Jesus as the Lamb of God and testifies that Jesus is the Son of God!
So, when all the people were baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized by John. As He was being baptized, He prayed, and while He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Trinity was revealed!
This is the context of Luke 3:22 and why I’ve chosen it for today. 😊
My Thoughts:
Let me start by saying that John the Baptist is a powerful display of what the anointing of the Holy Spirit can do! Think about it—here was a strangely dressed man, living out in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey. We aren’t told he received any special theological training. He didn’t attend the rabbinical schools of the day. Nope. All we know is that his mother, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in her womb, and the angel Gabriel stated in Luke 1:15 that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit.
What else could make people seek him out in the desert, listen to him, repent, and be baptized? Why would seemingly educated people continue to listen to John—even after he called them vipers? Why would people ask him what they should do to live right? This man, had no formal credentials. The Holy Spirit in him—that’s why.
But let’s get back to the verse. Jesus prays, the sky opens, and Father God speaks. The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove. There are not many places in Scripture where we see Elohim, the Triune God, mentioned in such a clear way. This is one of those moments. Genesis 1:1 is another example. So, obviously, this baptism was a very significant occasion!
In the Old Testament, we often read that the Spirit would descend upon people to enable them for specific tasks. The Spirit rested on or filled the following individuals:
- Bezalel – Exodus 31:1-5
- Othniel – Judges 3:9-10
- Gideon – Judges 6:34
- Jephthah – Judges 11:29
- Saul – 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 16:14
- David – 1 Samuel 16:13
- Ezekiel – Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 3:14
- Isaiah – Isaiah 61:1
So, why is this moment significant? Because of what we read in Luke 4:1—Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, needed the Spirit to successfully endure and resist the temptations of Satan himself!
Side Note: It’s important to note that the Holy Spirit is not a dove. He descended in bodily form like a dove. The Holy Spirit is a person, and it was crucial for Him to descend upon Jesus at this exact moment.
Another significant point is that Father God declared His love for Jesus and how proud He was of Him before Jesus had even endured temptation or started His earthly ministry. God declared that He was “well pleased” and “delighted” in His Son. The word “beloved” comes from the root word “agape,” which refers to that selfless, sacrificial love that God has for His Son. Even before Jesus began His earthly mission, God loved Him unconditionally.
Practical Application:
We need the Holy Spirit! Whatever we’ve been called to do, whatever our assignment, we cannot do it without Him. If Jesus, the Christ, who is God, needed the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need Him?
Like Bezalel or Gideon, once we are called by God to fulfill a mission, the Holy Spirit empowers us! Unlike Bezalel and Gideon, who only had the Spirit for a specific task, we can have the Holy Spirit’s enablement 24/7/365 if we have accepted Christ as our Savior.
This Holy Spirit can be everything we need! I’m a living testimony to this. He is everything we need to do life. THANK YOU, HOLY SPIRIT! He is our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby—who is with us forever (John 14:16, AMPC).
Just as Father God loved Jesus regardless and called Him “beloved,” so we too can receive that agape love every day! We are always accepted in the Beloved (the Christ).
Your Turn 😊
Do you have anything to add to Luke 3:22?
How can you apply this to your life?
What was your takeaway from Luke 3? Do you have a favorite verse or section?
Please share your thoughts!
See you tomorrow!
Peace & Love, Coach D
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