Settled

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, when we refocus our attention on Jesus’s life, leading to Passion Week.

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

¹⁵ But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

¹⁶ After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matthew 3:13–17 (NLT)

Jesus’s ministry began this very day when he was baptized in the Jordan River. His baptismal site lies just north of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth, 1,410 feet below sea level. Jesus did not seek a high place, throne, or platform to begin his ministry. He went to the lowest place and started his ministry with a humble act of obedience. This humble act was met with an open heaven and an assurance of the Heavenly Father’s pleasure.

There have been times when I felt the heavens were shut up tight, and my prayers echoed in silence. Self-promotion does not lead to open heavens and favor. Instead, God responds in grace when I humble myself and obey the call God has placed upon me.

God expressed his love for Jesus, the only begotten from the beginning. Love compelled Jesus to minister. He fulfilled His mission because He knew God loved the world and His son. It is a far cry from trying to earn the Father’s favor. God opened heaven that day to get a good view of His Son, demonstrating God’s goodness in humility.

The Holy Spirit settled on Jesus. This was more than a one-time encounter. The Holy Spirit came and rested on Jesus, and Jesus rested in the Holy Spirit. The entirety of Jesus’ ministry was propelled by the Holy Spirit.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit settled on Jesus, and Jesus was settled enough to go through times of testing and temptation because the Holy Spirit was leading.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. Matthew 4:1 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus through testing and temptation, and He emerged from the wilderness full of the Spirit and power.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ² where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. Luke 4:1–2 (NLT)

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. Luke 4:14 (NLT)

Jesus went through a lonely season, learning to rest in the Spirit and rely on the Word of God. This prepared him to minister not out of a desire for popularity or a need to be loved but out of the grace of God, which was unleashed through His humility.

My prayer this season is that I will learn humility, recognize the factor of God, and be settled by the Holy Spirit at work in my life.