Luke 3-21-22 Descent and Wilderness

Luke 3-21-22

21] Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

What is happening in this scripture? - John has been baptizing in the Jordan. Herod's men are watching him closely. In Luke it is interesting the way this story is told. He starts out saying Now when all the people were baptized, and then adds Jesus to the mix. Jesus is praying, and the heaven is opened. Then this interesting phrase: and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." A few miles away, another who was called the Son of God, Caesar, was rule of the Roman Empire. Inscriptions are still to be found upon ancient edifices and coins hailing Caesar at the Divine Son of God. Luke makes a specific point to have the heavens open up and the Spirit of holiness to descend, not in the form of a dove as is often depicted, but LIKE a dove. The imagery of coronation is clear here. God crowns Jesus, not Caesar. He is the son of the most high, the Beloved, and it is Jesus, the one who is baptized after the people, with whom God is well pleased.

How is this happening in the world today? -- This is a specific and purposeful story of direct blessing and annointing or assignment of title and mission. It happens AFTER the common people have been baptized by the voice of one crying in the wilderness, an Elijah-like prophet named John.
Questions to ponder: Who are we annointing or assigning power to in our world today? What kind of power are they welding? Is the authority gained AFTER the people have been taken care of, or in hopes that the leader will make things right? Are the common people the ones who must be worthy of the leader, or does the leader prove his or her worth? Where is the power coming from? And the final question? "Would God be pleased?"
In the gospels, immediately after Jesus' blessing, he is driven into the wilderness. That is certainly true of leaders today. Immediately Jesus is tempted, with the aphrodisiac of power. Another familiar theme. Jesus resists the temptation to power over justice. The people are not free. They are occupied and oppressed. They are sick and divided, and are exploited and marginalized, all in the name of power. Jesus begins his ministry, speaking of a different kind of Kingdom, one that looks more like a mustard seed, or a buried pearl, or a sack of meal with a hole in it.
What kind of kingdom is this, where the first are last and the last first? What happens to power in God's Kingdom, as opposed to Caesar's? What happens to the poor, and the poor in spirit?

How is this story my story? -- How does God's spirit descend upon you? What does Jesus call you to do from the river of baptism? How does a voice crying like one in the wilderness, call to you? What is he saying? If God is well pleased with Jesus, what does Jesus have to tell you about pleasing God?

-RSP