The Baptism of the Word by
the Father to begin His ministry
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There are many who would search the Scriptures for evidence to prove that it was a third divine being who descended from heaven and abode on Christ, but as the evidence has shown, the Spirit that descended on Christ from heaven was the Father, WHO said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". Yet, some will try and say that this saying by the Father is just an expression that reveals the heart of the Father for HIS Son, or that HE was just pleased with HIS Son. But as the Prophet Esaias said, "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. "He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust" (Matthew 12:17-21). The Word Himself testified to the woman at the well and said, "...The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24). He further testified and said, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" (John 6:56,57). It was the Father's glory of Light that descended from heaven and rested or abode with Him, testifying that HE was pleased to dwell with HIS Son. This event testified that the Father would be with Him in His ministry. What would the message be to us if the Scriptures said that the SPIRIT descended on Him like lightning? In all four gospels, the testimony given of Christ's baptism was that the SPIRIT descended on Him like a dove. The SPIRIT was not a dove, but descended on Him like the shape of a dove and lighting upon Him as Matthew and Luke testified. To confirm this truth, the Word testified of the Father to HIS servant Isaiah and said, "...The LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and [with] the flame of a devouring fire, [with] scattering, and tempest, and hailstones" (Isaiah 30:30). It was this Truth that John the Baptist referred to as he spoke to the Jews of Him Who was to come, Whose shoes he was not worthy to bear; Who shall baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire, Whose fan is in His hand to thoroughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. It is through the Arm of the LORD that HE will do HIS work. For the Word said, "...He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29). To further confirm this truth, while on the Mount of transfiguration, the Father again testified of being pleased with HIS Son. While Peter was yet speaking unto the Lord, "...behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5). It is important that we trust in the Word of God and hear what He has to say, that He might enlighten our minds to know the Truth. |