Knowing the Word in Luke 3:18-22, The Baptism of Jesus

John was a fearless preacher of righteousness. He rebuked Herod for divorcing his own wife and for marrying his brother’s wife after she asked for a divorce. John’s preaching led to his arrest.

Having given us more background on John the Baptist than the other gospel writers, Luke turns to Jesus’ baptism. The opening of heaven means a divine revelation will follow, specifically that Jesus is the Son of God. All four Gospels mention the descent of the Holy Spirit as a dove. Luke is the only one, however, who mentions it was after the baptism while Jesus was praying. God’s comments seem to be derived from Psalm 2:7 (“You are my Son”) and Isaiah 42:1 (“my chosen in whom my soul delights”) and suggest at the threshold of Jesus’ ministry he is thought to be both Son of God and Suffering Servant.

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But 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 he locked up John in prison.

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.”

Prayer: O eternal God, who hast taught us by thy holy word that our bodies are temples of thy Spirit; keep us, we most humbly beseech thee, temperate and holy in thought, word, and deed, that at the last we, with all the pure in heart, may see thee and be made like unto thee in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ out Lord.

Brooke Foss Westcott, 1825-1901