Spirit Descending

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.' I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, He told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God."  John 1:28-34 NLT 

John the Baptist didn’t even know Jesus was the Messiah until he saw the Holy Spirit—like a dove—coming down from Heaven lighting on Him. This was man whom he had known all of his life—his relative, perhaps a cousin. This passage doesn’t tell us of their family relationship—but John’s mother, Elizabeth, was related to Mary, the mother of Jesus (see Luke 1:36). God told John to watch for the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Now here is the Holy Spirit filling Jesus at His baptism. He is the Messiah—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit. All these promises rolled into one—The Chosen One. John the Baptist was certainly blessed to have witnessed this—to have walked not only where Jesus walked…but before and alongside of Him. John had a special relationship with Jesus. How is your relationship with Jesus? 

Prayer ~ Jesus, just as You were revealed to John, reveal more of Yourself to us that we would draw closer to You. Help us to understand You and Your ways more deeply and have an even closer relationship with You, Your Father, and the Holy Spirit—that we would also testify that You are the Chosen One of God.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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