Reflections

“Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” Luke 3:21-22

Jesus demonstrated to us how to live here on earth.  Before Jesus began His ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist who preceded Jesus.  John was calling people to repentance and baptizing them with water.  Now Jesus came and was baptized by John, but Jesus’ baptism symbolized the new baptism of the Spirit.  After Jesus was baptized in water, heaven opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus.  The Holy Spirit was the power by which Jesus was able to do His ministry.

As Christians we are called to continue the work of Jesus Christ.  This same Holy Spirit that descended upon Jesus is available for us to go out and do effective ministry.  Even the signs and wonders that followed Jesus (casting out of evil spirits, miraculous healings, raising the dead, etc.) will follow us because it is the Holy Spirit at work in us.  We do not rely upon our own strength or ability but God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Even Jesus did not rely upon His own ability to do the work He set out to do, He relied on the Holy Spirit.  So we can be confident that we will accomplish all that God has called us to because we have Jesus as our example and the Holy Spirit in us.