Heaven opens over the river · the Father, the Son and the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism
A Bible story to tell as a family · Matthew 3:13–17 · ages 4–12 · 10 min
The story
In the wilderness of Judea there was a very unusual preacher. His name was John the Baptist. He wore clothes of camel’s hair and a leather belt, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Crunch, crunch! And what did he preach? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” To repent means to turn around: to stop walking away from God and come back to him.
People from Jerusalem and the whole region went down to the Jordan River. A huge line on the riverbank! Each person confessed their sins, and John baptized them in the river. Baptism was a sign for people who wanted to be washed on the inside and start over. But John warned: after him would come someone much more powerful, someone whose sandals he was not even worthy to carry.
One day, who shows up at the river? Jesus! He came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John’s eyes go wide and he tries to stop him: “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” It makes sense: John’s baptism was for repentant sinners, and Jesus had never sinned. What was he doing there?
Jesus answered calmly: “Let it be so now,” and added: “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” In other words: this is how God’s plan has to unfold. Many Christians see Jesus here placing himself alongside sinners, going into the water with them to stand on our side. So John agreed, and Jesus was baptized. Splash!
And then came one of the most beautiful scenes in the Bible. As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened. He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, gently, and resting on him. Imagine the silence on the riverbank, the water still dripping from Jesus’ hair and the open sky above.
Then a voice came from heaven. It wasn’t John’s, or anyone’s in the crowd. It was the Father’s voice: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” Notice: Jesus had not yet started preaching from town to town or doing the miracles we know. Even so, the Father says loud and clear that he loves him and delights in him.
In this scene, the Father, who speaks from heaven, the Son, who comes out of the water, and the Holy Spirit, who descends like a dove, all appear together. One God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit: this is what the church calls the Trinity. And there is good news for us: the Bible says that all who believe in Jesus are children of God (Galatians 3:26). What Jesus has always been, we receive as a gift, through faith in him.
13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
What the Bible says
- v. 14: John tries to stop Jesus, saying that he is the one who needs to be baptized by Jesus.
- v. 16: the heavens open, and Jesus sees the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on him.
- v. 17: a voice from heaven says: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
What we learn
At Jesus’ baptism, heaven opens and the Father reveals who he is: the beloved Son. The Spirit descends on him and the Father speaks: the triune God appears in a single scene. Jesus had no sin to confess, but he went into the water where sinners went; he came to stand on our side and bring us to God. And the Father’s love was declared before any miracle: it was not earned, it was spoken. Through Jesus, we too are welcomed as children.
Questions to talk about
For little ones
- The Spirit came down on Jesus like what kind of bird?
- What did the voice from heaven say about Jesus?
For kids
- Why did John think it was strange to baptize Jesus?
- The Father said he loves Jesus before Jesus did his miracles. What does that teach you about God’s love for you?
For teens
- Many people live trying to prove their worth. What changes if you start the day hearing who God says you are, instead of what you need to achieve?
For adults
- Do the people you love hear from you words of love and approval that don’t depend on performance? How can you say that to someone this week?
Activity
Blessing dove: fold a sheet of paper in half and cut out a dove (or draw and color one). Then, one at a time, each person stands in the middle of the circle; someone makes the dove land gently on that person’s shoulder, and everyone says something they love about them, without mentioning grades, prizes or chores. Finish by reading Matthew 3:17 together.
To memorize: Matthew 3:17
Prayer
Father, thank you for Jesus, your beloved Son, who went into the water alongside sinners to come and find us. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Help us live as beloved children, with nothing to prove in order to be loved by you. In Jesus’ name, amen.