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The Holy Anointing

Thursday, November 16



Matthew 3:13-17 (NKJV)
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus 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. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Devotion
Thirty years of preparation for Jesus’ ministry came to a climax in this defining and decisive moment in time. The past thirty years find their focus in the uniqueness of this event; Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. 

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4). It was meant for those who were sorry for their sins and to express their determination to have nothing more to do with their trespasses. Everyone in that baptism line that day knew what they were about to go through in the process of the experience of baptism. They were proclaiming their repentance. 

One would question, as John certainly did, what in the world was Jesus, the sinless and spotless one, the Son of God doing, waiting in line to be baptized in a baptism which is for the repentance of sins? 

John knew he was the forerunner of Jesus. He questioned Jesus, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me? (14).” John must have been questioning, why he who is sinless be participating in a baptism that is expressive of repentance of sin. Yet Jesus answered him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him (vs15).” Jesus was reminding John of the purpose for which he was called by God and how John played an integral part in that mission, the one who would be “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight!”(Matthew 3:3). 

As Jesus was praying in this encounter of baptism (Luke 3:21), heaven was torn open and the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove and landed on him, showing the anointing of Christ. Then God’s audible voice was heard, saying, “This is My beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased (Luke 3:22).”

This tearing open of Heaven in this event pointed to another tearing open of Heaven. Namely the tearing down of the curtain from top to bottom in the temple during the death of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. Jesus, bearing all humanity's sins on the cross, simultaneously the curtain that symbolized the separation from God and man was torn apart. A profound moment reminded us all that in Jesus alone the barriers between Heaven and Earth opened, giving us direct access to God to receive His extravagant love, mercy and grace in our time of need by the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus in this moment is standing on the stage of human history and affirms that he has come to do that which has been appointed from all of eternity (‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬).

Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your Son Jesus my Messiah, who was baptized, leading by example. Thank You for the fulfillment of prophecy, which has given me access to Your presence and Your Holy anointing. Anoint me and send me out in the power of Your Holy Spirit, to do great exploits for Your Kingdom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.  

Apply It Today
If you have been baptized in water, it is time for you to arise and begin to walk in your calling. What is it that God has equipped you to do in the church and in the marketplace? Embrace the power of the Holy Spirit and exercise your gift. 

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