“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him” (Matthew 3:16)
Jesus’ baptism was a turning point: it marked the beginning of His ministry on earth. Jesus was now ready to take up His task to proclaim the Gospel and to earn salvation for mankind. When He came up from the water, He was “anointed” with the Holy Spirit – just like kings used to be anointed when they took up their task.
Jesus’ ordination didn’t go unnoticed. The people present saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove, and they heard God’s voice from heaven. The devil, Jesus’ adversary, also noticed this turning point. Immediately after the baptism, he tried to tempt Jesus to sin – which would have ruined His mission. But Jesus did not give in.
Jesus’ preaching and miracles attracted enormous crowds. The people were divided because of Him, and the religious elite considered Him a threat for their own position and for the political stability in Israel. Yet, Jesus’ ministry not only caused turmoil on earth, but also in the spiritual world. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were involved (Matthew 3:16-17). Angels were involved (Matthew 4:11). Satan was alarmed. Although the spiritual realm is mostly invisible for human eyes, it is very real and it influences our world. Are you aware of this in your daily life?