God Speaks, Let’s Listen – Part 2, New Testament by Myra Kahn Adams for Town Hall
Today our “God Speaks” study continues with the New Testament. If you missed “Part 1, the Old Testament,” click here. The goal of this two-part study is to spark your interest in the power of God’s words in the Bible, the Word of God.
In the New Testament, there are hundreds of verses where Jesus speaks. The vast majority are in the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – often enhanced with red type in popular study Bibles. For those who believe Jesus is the Messiah and Lord God, He speaks directly to us.
However, with “quick” in the title, I mostly focus on the two occasions when God repeats His message of truth and love, speaking about Jesus and to Jesus. The disciples – after they heard God speak, and Jesus’ identity was revealed – were enlightened by the message from Heaven.
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Today, Bible readers can also be enlightened, inspired, comforted, and guided by God’s declaration at the Baptism and Transfiguration of Jesus.
We begin with the Baptism of Jesus, the inaugural event of His earthly mission amplified by its appearance in all four Gospels. Remarkedly similar dialogue is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, while John’s Gospel records what John the Baptist experienced.
To emphasize God’s message, let’s review each of the Gospel verses in Biblical order. Matthew says:
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-18).
Isn’t that the greatest endorsement in the universe?
Mark says:
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11).
Luke says:
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3: 21-22).
John says:
(Actually, he records John the Baptist’s testimony about this Divine event.) Here are two highlights: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him” and “I have seen, and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” Now, take 45-seconds and read the Baptist’s dramatic account in (John 1:29-34).
