One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” – Mark 1:9-12
Luke 3: One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened,and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
Abby: I played in an inflatable pool today. It was so fun!
Jerry: Awesome! You know, water’s very important in the Bible. The woman at the well. The flood. And when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came to earth like a dove. Then God said, “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy!”
Abby: My experience was a little different.
Abby: I jumped out of the water and rolled in dirt as my master called me a “bad girl!”
Abby: I played in an inflatable pool today. It was so fun!
Jerry: Awesome! You know, water's very important in the Bible. The woman at the well. The flood. And when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came to earth like a dove. Then God said, "This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy!"
Abby: My experience was a little different.
Abby: I jumped out of the water and rolled in dirt as my master called me a "bad girl!"
Nim: Con says my new idea is a bad one.
Abby: What's the idea?
Nim: High-dive baptisms!
Abby: Oh, my!
Nim: The problem is that I don't know if he means "bad" as in "good." Like: That's one bad bike, dude! Or if he means "bad" as in "bad." Like: Bad news about your bike, dude!
Abby: Gosh. If only we could know which he meant.
Nim: You see my dilemma.
Jesus said about baptisms in Matthew 28, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Nim: I have a great idea! High-dive baptisms!
Con: What?!
Nim: The preacher pushes people in the water from the highest-dive at a swimming pool! They get to accept Jesus and conquer their fear simultaneously!
("You're saved!" "Aaaa!")
Con: What about churches that baptize babies?
Nim: Two words: water wings!
Con: This is a really bad idea.
Nim: Pish-posh! Hurry up and get me a patent attorney on the phone!
Nim: Can you imagine how awesome it was 2,000 years ago to learn that Jesus was actually born?
Nim: All of mankind had waited on Messiah for centuries and suddenly...He was with us. That's what His name means..."God with us."
Nim: The air must have smelled sweeter. The sun's light must have been brighter. Every living creature on earth must have felt an urge to bend its knee and bow its head.
Abby: That was beautiful. But just have one question: Who are you and what have you done with Nim?
God "Being with us" was so hard to imagine that even John the Baptist needed confirmation.