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Do We Know The Holy Spirit?
Short explanations to 335 Bible texts that speak of the Holy Spirit
II. The Holy Spirit in the Gospels

2. Revelations of the Holy Spirit at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan


The self-revelation of the Holy Trinity at the baptism of Jesus Christ
The repentance of John the Baptist


Matthew 3:8-12
8 “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.` For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abrahem from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptise 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 baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire”.
(see also Mark 1:3-13 and Luke 3:1-22)

The most significant prophet of the Old Covenant preached an uncompromising repentance and demanded from all his listeners the wilful turning from all unrighteousness. He called for them to confess their sins by being submersed in baptism in the Jordan, a visible sign that every person is guilty and deserving of drowning. John described the coming Messiah as a judge with an axe held high in His hands about to mercilessly chop down and burn all rotten trees. He will sweep the threshing floor, sift out the wheat, and burn up the chaff in the fire of God´s wrath.

John recognized, however, that his water baptism could not renew the substance within his repentant followers or break their pride. Therefore, he confessed that the coming Messiah would baptize the truly repentant with the Holy Spirit, while the hardened self-righteous would receive a baptism of fire. The Baptist called these proud and pious ones a satanic brood of vipers because they thought they could earn their own salvation through their overly subtle interpretation of the law and numerous obligations.

The preaching of repentance of the Baptist was justified, for the Holy Spirit tolerates no sin, even in believers. Therefore, a shocking recognition of one´s own sin need precede every acceptance of grace, along with a deep regret and hatred for every vile deed and the will to turn from all evil. The believer should work to uncover all of the dark corners in his life in the school of the Holy Spirit. Guilt should be confessed before God. Only then can the promise of grace be realized: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (I John 1:8-10)


The Self-Revelation of the Holy Trinity at the Baptism of Jesus Christ

Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, 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. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

When Jesus, as a young man of about 30, came to John the Baptist to be baptized there occurred something similar to what had happened when His mother Mary visited Elizabeth, the mother of the Baptist. When Jesus approached him, John immediately sensed that this One, born of the Holy Spirit, was no sinner and in no need of a baptism of repentance. He refused to baptize Him! Jesus, however, made it kindly known that His baptism was indispensable. Why, however, was Jesus baptized, since He was sinless and holy? He wanted to fulfil all righteousness of God! Herein it is to be understood that Jesus took the sin of all mankind upon Himself. He was baptized for us, unrighteous sinners, as our representative. He had been born to become an atoning sacrifice, dying for all guilty and depraved mankind. From the very first minute of His earthly ministry He affirmed His sending to be our representative at the judgment of God.

Therefore, the heaven was opened wide: therefore, the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a white dove: therefore, God Himself spoke! After Jesus affirmed His death of atonement in our place and had taken up His cross, even before He began to teach and work miracles, the Holy Trinity was manifested in a marvellous way.

Heaven´s gate was no longer shut, but wide open! The way to God was now free for every person to take. Sin no longer separated condemned man from Holy God. The good Spirit of God could descend unhindered to alight and rest upon the sinless Jesus. This merciful descent of the Holy Spirit reveals His gentleness and humility, His submission to the will of God, and His love for the lost. Thus the character traits of Jesus and the Holy Spirit became equally visible!

And then God Himself spoke! These words of God are astonishingly unique. They were repeated at the transfiguration of Jesus, before His crucifixion (Matt. 17:5). The Father in heaven rejoiced greatly that His Firstborn Son had overcome the arrogance, ego and rebellion of the human race, and that He was prepared to die as an offering of atonement in the place of reluctant sinners. The thrice Holy One broke through His seclusion and spoke in human language His unique and decisive word to all those born from dust: This is My beloved Son who brings me pure joy! Therein, the Lord God and Father of Jesus Christ testified that this One, His beloved Son, was precisely fulfilling His will and plan of salvation. Jesus is the authorized word of God! He has no other word for humanity. The entire will and plan of God are realized in Jesus. He is the only one born of the Holy Spirit! In Him the Spirit became incarnate. Whoever desires to understand the Holy Spirit must study, follow, and learn of Jesus.


The Repentance of John the Baptist

John 1:29-37
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, after me comes a man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.` 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water. 32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The baptism of Jesus and the descent of the Spirit of God in the form of a dove brought forth a deep and profound reflection in the heart of the Baptist. This was the sign that God had previously revealed to him by which he would recognize the coming Messiah.

The longed-for Messiah did not come, however, as a judge, bringing with Him fire and an axe, but as a meek Lamb of God who let Himself be baptized in the place of others, and who took the sin of the world upon Himself. He was prepared to die as an offering of atonement for the unrighteous! The recognition of this shattered all form of imagination in the fiery preacher of repentance! He could only stammer: “Behold, this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” From this hour on he testified of Jesus that He alone is the one who will baptize the repentant with the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, the Baptist was the first to testify that Jesus was the Son of God. No one else possessed a greater love for or authority to save depraved sinners as the One born of the Holy Spirit. John was so overcome by the recognition of this that he pointed his own followers to the Lamb of God, who alone was able to substantially change and sanctify them through the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

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