The Heavens were Opened

image\bible_persp9.gif

The Bible says that the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove. 

"And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." - Matthew 3:16-17

The words "heavens were opened" is a phrase used in Old Testament times of God opening the heavens and giving a vision to a prophet. The prophet Ezekiel said:

"the heavens were opened, and I saw visions" - Ezekiel 1:1

God revealed many times that there is a place called the "heavens" where the birds fly, and there is also a place where God and the angels dwell referred to as the "heavens." Many times God opened the heavens and allowed men to see heavenly things. Jacob had a dream and saw a ladder with its bottom touching the earth, and its top touching heaven. He also saw angels ascending and descending on the ladder. Then suddenly he saw the Lord standing above the ladder, who told him of the wonderful promises. Jacob said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."

The prophet Isaiah was contemplating the utter hopelessness of man's sinful condition, and realized that only God could do something about it, and he said:

"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down" - Isaiah 64:1
 

 

                       Painting of a Dove Descending
 Painting of a dove descending out of Heaven
Painted Illustration of A Peaceful Dove Descending

 


The Baptism of Jesus, Jesus Appears at the Jordan River, Jesus and Righteousness, Jesus is Baptized, The Heavens were Opened, A Dove Descends out of Heaven, The Dove is Lit and Rests Upon Jesus, The Voice of God out of Heaven

 

 

The Baptism of Jesus

 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - Mark 1:11

The New Testament - A Brief Overview

Brief History of the Baptism of Jesus
Scriptures and Topics Covered:
Jesus Appears at the Jordan River (Mat 3:13; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21).
Jesus and Righteousness (Mat 3:15; Is 11:5).
The Baptism of Jesus (Mat 3:16; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21;Jn 1:32-33).
The Heavens were Opened (Mat 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:21; Jn 1:32-33).
A Dove Descends Out of Heaven (Mat 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32-33).
The Dove is Lit and Rests Upon Jesus (Mat 3:16; Mk 1:10; Lk 3:22; Jn 1:32-33).
The Voice of God Out of Heaven (Mat 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22)


"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness." Luke 3:1-2

Jesus Appears at the Jordan River

According to the Bible Jesus now makes his first public appearance where John was baptizing at the Jordan River. Jesus is thirty years of age, and He comes to John and requests to be baptized. You can almost hear the calmness in John's powerful voice, "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?"

Hebrew Scroll of the Torah

All of History Waiting for This Moment

Every great event that ever happened in the history of the world pales in comparison to this powerful moment when the God of the universe, the creator of all things, the Word of God in a human body is being anointed for His mission and about to speak to the world.

"Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:15

Jesus had never sinned and therefore had no need to repent, yet he saw in John's baptism the righteousness of God. It is interesting why Jesus would be so concerned with righteousness, the reason can be found in the words of Isaiah about the Messiah:

"And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins ." - Isaiah 11:5

Read The Bible

Table of Contents

Main Menu

Ancient Questions

Bible Study Questions

About

Welcome to Free Bible: Unearthing the Past, Illuminating the Present! Step into a world where ancient history and biblical narratives intertwine, inviting you to explore the rich tapestry of human civilization.

Discover the captivating stories of forgotten empires, delve into the customs and cultures of our ancestors, and witness the remarkable findings unearthed by dedicated archaeologists.

Immerse yourself in a treasure trove of knowledge, where the past comes alive and illuminates our understanding of the present.

Join us on this extraordinary journey through time, where curiosity is rewarded and ancient mysteries await your exploration.

Recent posts