Luke 3:15-22 (ESV)
[15] As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, [16] John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
[18] So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. [19] But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, [20] added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.
[21] Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Questions for Reflection
1. What mental image comes to mind when you hear the word "baptism"?
2. How were Jesus, the dove, and the voice all related in Jesus’ baptism? (3:21-22)
3. To whom did the voice from heaven speak during Jesus’ baptism? (3:22)
4. What did the voice from heaven actually say about Jesus? (3:22)
5. What was Jesus doing when the Holy Spirit descended on Him? (3:22)
6. What about Luke’s description of Jesus’ baptism leads us to think of God in terms of three persons—the Trinity?
7. Since Jesus was sinless, what made His baptism necessary?
8. How does Jesus’ baptism demonstrate His willingness to identify with our human condition?
9. How are repentance, baptism, forgiveness, prayer, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and God’s blessing all important in the life of a Christian?
