After His Baptism, Jesus Came Up Out Of The Water, The Heavens Opened And He Saw The Spirit Of God Descending Like A Dove And Settling On Him

MATHEW 3:13-17
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:13-17‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/mat.3.13-17.nkj

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John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive them of their sins and had chosen to commit their lives to Him, to submit to His leadership and live as God wants them to live (verse 11).
He was explaining that Jesus’ baptism would be much greater than this, when suddenly Jesus came to him and asked to be baptized! John felt unqualified, and wanted Jesus to baptize him.
Why did Jesus ask to be baptized?
It was certainly not for repentance for He never sinned. But Jesus said, "we must carry out all that God requires."
Jesus saw His baptism as advancing God's work. Jesus was baptized because He was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, just as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses, and Daniel had done.
He was showing support for what John was doing; inaugurating His public ministry, and He was identifying with the penitent people of God.
Jesus, the perfect man didn't need baptism for His sin, for He had not sinned, but He accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father and God showed His approval.
Baptism is a covenant with God, and when one makes the decision to go through the waters of baptism as Jesus did, He is publicly declaring his agreement with God.
John's purpose was to prepare the people to receive Jesus (JOHN 1:35-37).
Jesus arrives, and His coming tests John’s integrity. John passed the test by publicly baptizing Jesus and handing all his followers to Christ. Soon he would say, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less" (JOHN 3:30).
That is an example for all believers to follow.
Can we, like John put our egos and profitable work aside in order to point others to Christ.
Are we willing to lose some of our status so that others will benefit?
The doctrine of the Trinity, which appeared later in church history, teaches that God is three persons and yet one in essence. In verses 16-17, all three persons of the Trinity are present and active.
God the Father speaks; God the Son is baptized; God the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus. God is one, yet in three persons at the same time.
This is one of God's incomprehensible mysteries. But like Jesus, when one is baptised in water, on coming up out of the water, the Holy Spirit shall come upon him and God Himself will baptise him in the spirit by the blood of Jesus.
This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Baptism through the waters signifies the washing of the flesh and accepting Jesus’ dominion and authority; it is publicly signing the covenant agreement of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It signifies death to our old sinful selves and total submission to God.
John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
John was talking about the transformation of God’s people, removing the chaff with fire, the old sinful nature, that that one is transformed by the renewing of his mind and would come to understand what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (ROMANS 12:1-2).
When one’s heart is right with God, believing on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, and in total surrender, Jesus baptises him with the Holy Spirit and fire
as He did for Jesus, the Spirit comes upon him and later in Him (JOHN 14:15-18), and the believer is born again into the body of Christ.
It is like God publicly signing His part of the covenant and the believer is saved.
At this time, the Holy Spirit joins with the believers spirit and is made perfect, not the flesh, for that would take away one’s free will. But through obedience, manifest through the flesh, giving one the desire to do what pleases God, and the power to it (PHILIPPIANS 2:13.
The flesh is not willing to give up its sinful lust and a battle begins within, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit, one must walk in the Spirit and will be known by their fruits (GALATIANS 5:16-26).
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Therefore, my beloved, if not already, you need to be baptized, for this is a requirement of God.
Jesus, is the example to follow, He was baptized by full immersion.
In doing so, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of your salvation.
He will lead, teach, and guide you through your life and service to God.
Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Therefore, as Peter has told us, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬
All glory to God forever and ever. Amen.