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The Holy Spirit’s Descent: A Testament to Jesus (John 1:32-33)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. (33) And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thous shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  (John 1:32-33)

Explanation:

The term “bare record” reminds us of a witness in a court case.  John’s job was to witness of the coming Messiah.  When Jesus came John baptized Him, and witnessed that the Spirit came to descend on Him. 

What did that Holy Spirit look like? He said the action that it was like was a dove descending from heaven. There is some mystery to this, but it was clear to John. John’s testimony was that Jesus is the one who he saw experience this moment.

The phrase is said again by John, “And I knew him not”. Before this moment, John did not know and had no agenda for any one person to be identified as Messiah. John wasn’t routing for the Messiah to be Jesus. So, how did he know that it was Jesus that was the Messiah?

His record is that “he that sent me to baptize with water”, a reference to God himself, “said unto me” the conditions that Jesus met. God told John that the Messiah would be the one that John saw this Spirit descend on and remain on that would come with a different kind of baptism. This Messiah would not simply baptize with water, but would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

This is exactly what happened. At the baptism of Jesus, John experienced the Trinity in a way that identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Christ.

[13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. [14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? [15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. [16] 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: [17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:13-17)

Notice here the kind of witness that John is being to this reality. John the Baptist is baring witness of the witness of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit’s testimony about the Son. This is being related by John the Author of the Gospel who is also writing this Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Application

Those who trust in Christ as Savior are immersed into the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at conversion. They are put into Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We still baptize by water, but it is a picture of what happens Spiritually to those who trust in Christ. 

[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:3-5)

We should trust in Christ as Savior because He is who is identified as the Messiah, the only begotton Son of God.

We should be baptized to fullfill all righteousness by being obedient to Christ and identified with Him.

We should live in the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells those who have been baptized by Him into Chirst.

Response

  1. Have you trusted in Christ?
  2. Do you bare witness of who He is to others?
  3. Are you being guided by the Holy Spirit and His Word?
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Living by Faith: Lessons from John the Baptist (John 1:31)

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

[31] And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

Explanation

John knew Jesus as His cousin. John also knew that his mission was to make manifest the Messiah to Israel. This was the reason that he had a preaching ministry that was leading people to repentance pictured in baptism. They were being prepared to meet the Messiah. They were being prepared by being repentant.

This is the moment where John realizes that the Messiah was Jesus. He prophetically understood in this moment that the person he was preparing people for was here. Think about how incredible that must have been. The messiah is here, and it is his cousin. Amazing!

Application

When God calls us to a ministry, He rarely gives us all of the information that we will eventually have in the doing of that ministry. We learn as we go. We see the providence of God far more clearly in hindsight than in foresight. God has a plan, and we do not always know it from the beginning. By faith in Christ, we act on what we do know and what God has told us through His Word. As we act in faith, God uses us and allows us to see more clearly. One songwriter said, “I’ll walk with grace my feet, and faith my eyes.” I like that sentiment. We need God’s daily grace, and we walk by faith and not by sight.

Response

  1. Where do you need to live by faith today?
  2. Who do you need to point to Jesus today?
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The Significance of Lamb Imagery in the Bible (John 1:29-30)

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

(29) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (30) This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. John 1:29-30

Explain:

He had just been questioned by people sent to him by the pharisees.  The next day Jesus shows up.  He makes two statements in these verses. The first is a bold illusion to a Biblical truth.

Behold the Lamb of God…

Lamb imagery is an important them throughout the Bible.  One of the first references to a lamb in the Old Testament happens in Genesis 22.  A father, Abraham, takes his only son to offer him up for a sacrifice.  

[7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? [8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:7-8)

When Abraham is about to sacrifice his son, God the Father stops him and provides a substitute lamb.

[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:12-13)

This idea of a substitute lamb is continued in the story of the Exodus.  The children of Israel, at the passover, were to kill a lamb without spot or blemish, and paint its blood on the doorposts of their house.  When the death angel would pass by their homes, they would look to the blood of lamb and pass over.  The oldest son would not die.  In a very real sense, the lamb was sacrificed in place of the son.

A lamb was killed daily for the sins of Israel as part of the daily sacrifices required by God.

Isaiah says that the suffering servant would be like a lamb lead to the slaughter.  This is offering and atonement language foretelling the substitutionary atonement that Jesus would ultimately fulfill.

John was pointing to an important truth about Jesus from the start.  Jesus was going to be that lamb of God.  Why?

which taketh away the sin of the world. 

As the lamb sacrificed would be a sufficient substitute for the sin of the nation of Israel, Jesus sacrifice would be a sufficient substitute for the sin of the whole world.

John makes a second statement in the presence of Jesus.  He alludes to what he had said recorded in the verses just beforehand.

(30) This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

What does “before me” mean?

It speaks to Jesus’ priority.  Jesus is greater than John.  Jesus is the Christ, and John prepares His way.  John knew that he was to prepare the way of the messiah.  It was the point of His whole life and ministry.

It speaks to Jesus’ pre-existence.  Jesus, being God, is eternal.  He didn’t begin at His conception.  He became incarnate as His conception.  Again, this is something that John now knew.  In this moment, he gets to declare it in the presence of Jesus Christ Himself. 

Apply:

A few points of application.

  1. I need a substitute. I cannot pay for my sin myself. Thanks be to God for giving us His Son. He did not spare him, but gave him up freely for us all. 
  2. I need to acknowledge Christ’s priority. He’s in charge. He’s the focus. He’s number 1. If I point to Him I have simply done my duty. This ought to be the focus of my life.

Response:

  1. Do you know Christ as Savior? He can be your substitute. Trust in Him today!
  2. Do you know Christ as Lord? Once you know Him as Savior, you will know Him as Lord. He’s in charge. Are you submitting to Him today?
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Pointing Others to Jesus: Lessons from John (John 1:27-28)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(27) He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. (28) These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1:27-28)

Explanation

Here we get the final and full answer to the question posed to John.  What gives you the authority to baptize, John?  Here is His full answer.  “There is someone coming after me who I am preparing us for.  He is greater than I am.  He is the reason for my ministry.  I’m not even worthy to take off his shoes and wash his feet.”  In other words, I’m not even worthy to be His lowest servant doing for him the most humble task.

Verse 28 explains to us that these recorded conversations were real history, done in a real place at a real time.  They were the fulfillment of real Old Testament prophecy.

Application

In the beginning of this section we see John being asked questions that could really create or at least reveal real pride in His heart about his ministry, his results, his influence, and his future aspirations.  What we see instead is a genuine humility.  We see a boldness to speak what He was commanded to speak.  We see a desire to be obedient to his calling.  We see a humbling of himself through pointing others to Jesus.

This is informative as an example for us.  We ought not take credit for what God does through us.  We ought not have aspirations beyond obedience.  We ought to point people to Jesus.  We ought to limit what we do to what Christ has authorized us to do.  The most important thing He has authorized us to do is to make disciples of all nations.

[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

Respond

  1. When it comes to pride, where do you stand?  Are you appropriately humble or sinfully prideful in any area of your life?
  2. How is your relationship with Jesus right now?
  3. Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ as one of His disciples?