“耶稣受了洗，随即从水里上来。天忽然为他开了，他就看见 神的灵仿佛鸽子降下，落在他身上。” – 太 3:16
在耶稣受洗的那一刻，圣灵“仿佛鸽子”降在他身上，这一事实描述并非无关紧要。要理解其中的原因，我们可以先回答问题：我们还在圣经中的哪些地方见到过鸽子？我们可以在这些故事之间找到什么联系？
还记得挪亚从方舟里放出一只鸽子吗？它第一次飞回时没带来什么，第二次出去后，嘴里叼着一片橄榄叶回来了（创 8:11）。鸽子嘴里新鲜的绿叶象征着一个新时代的开始，一个充满希望的转折，和平与平安的再现，以及即将临到的应许，即如此戏剧性的洪水带来的毁灭永不会再发生了。
耶稣受洗时记载的鸽子降临的场景标志着耶稣基督的另一个新时代已经开始。在耶稣身上，显出了一个充满希望的转折：即和平统治的到来，并且耶稣的到来将成为历史中应许实现的关键。在这个事件中，我们看到一个标志，即神要藉着基督重建世界，扭转一切，使祂的旨意最终得以成就。
祷告
主耶稣，在你的洗礼中，我们看到了神的应许崭新的记号，以及你复兴整个世界的伟大计划得以展开。我们惊喜地发现，你旨意中的一切都是如此美好，圣经也忠实地启示了你完美的计划。我们奉你的名祷告，愿你的旨意成全。阿们。
马太福音 3:13-17
13当下耶稣从加利利来到约旦河，见了约翰，要受他的洗。
14约翰想要拦住他，说：“我当受你的洗，你反倒上我这里来吗？”
15耶稣回答说：“你暂且许我，因为我们理当这样尽诸般的义。”于是约翰许了他。
16耶稣受了洗，随即从水里上来。天忽然为他开了，他就看见神的灵仿佛鸽子降下，落在他身上；
17从天上有声音说：“这是我的爱子，我所喜悦的。”
God’s Spirit Descending Like A Dove
“At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” – Matthew 3:16
The fact that the Spirit rested on Jesus “like a dove” at the moment of his baptism is not insignificant. To understand why, we can start by asking where else in the Bible we have come across doves, and what connections we can make between these stories.
Remember how Noah sent out a dove from the ark? It first came back with nothing, and then, after going out a second time, it returned with an olive leaf in its beak (Genesis 8:11). The fresh green leaf in the dove’s mouth signified the beginning of a new era, a hopeful turning of events, the renewed presence of peace and shalom, and the imminent promise that no such dramatic devastation would have to happen again.
The reference to a dove at Jesus’ baptism is a sign that another new era has begun in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, there is finally a hopeful turning of events: the arrival of a peaceful reign and the promise that Jesus’ coming will be pivotal in history. In this event we see a sign that God is recreating the world in Christ, setting things right, and rebuilding so that his purposes can finally be realized.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in your baptism we see the sign of God’s new promise and the unfolding of your great plan to restore the whole world to yourself. We marvel at the beauty of how everything holds together in you, and that the Scriptures point faithfully to your perfect plan. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
