4. Ch:7 – Introduction
The Baptism of Christ
When Jesus was thirty he was baptized by St. John
the Baptist in the Jordan River.
John was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus
John calls Jesus “The Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world.”
5. The Baptism of Christ
John recognizes that Jesus is the one he was preparing for
Watch the video~
Sacrament of Baptism
6. Acceptance of Mission and Anticipation of the passion
Christ was sinless but identified with sinner as part of his plan
of redemption.
Jesus takes on the burden of humanities sin (READ CCC 536 page 77)
Jesus is the Lamb of God that stands in for us as a sacrifice for
the atonement of our sins
Redemption – means paying the price to free someone
enslaved, imprisoned, held hostage.
The Good News (Gospel) is that Christ came to release us from
captivity to sin and death.
Christ’s baptism anticipates his Passion and Resurrection b/c
going under the water symbolizes death and come up out of the
water is a sign of resurrection.
8. A Trinitarian Event
Jesus’ Baptism is a fully Trinitarian event
When Christ emerges from the waters of the
Jordan at his Baptism
Holy Spirit descends up on him in the form of a
dove ~ the anointing of the Spirit
Father spoke from heaven calling Jesus his Son ~
The words from heaven
The Baptism then becomes a manifestation of
the Blessed Trinity as well.
9. Temptation in the Wilderness
After the Baptism Jesus went into the
wilderness where he prayed and fasted
for forty days.
The number 40 represents a time of
trial and testing.
10. Biblical theme of 40
It rained 40 days and 40 nights during the Flood (Genesis 7:4)
Noah waited 40 days after the waters receded and he sent out the dove (Genesis 8: 3-8)
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebecca (Genesis 25: 20)
Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24: 18)
The Israelites ate Manna 40 years in the Desert (Genesis 16: 35)
Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24: 18)
Elijah fasted 40 days in the wilderness (1 Kings 19: 8)
Jesus spent 40 days Fasting in the Desert after His baptism (Matthew 4: 1-2)
Jesus also spent 40 days on earth following His Resurrection (Acts 1: 3)
12. Temptation in the Wilderness
Satan tests Jesus to deter him from his
mission of redemption.
Christ refused the temptations of the
devil and was faithful to the Father’s will.
Jesus shows that he can overcome the
temptation and can help us do so also.
13. Question - Student Reflection?
1.Do you believe in Miracles?
2.What does the Bible say about miracles?
3.Does God Still Work Miracles Today?
Watch the video – how can Jesus be both God and human?
16. Christ’s Miraculous Works
Christ continued to perform many miracles after his first one at Cana. They are
categorized as follows:
Abundance
The great haul of fishes (Luke 5:1-11)
Jesus fed at least five thousand people (Matthew 14:15-21).
Healings of Physical Deformities and Sicknesses
Jesus opened the eyes of a man born blind (John 9:1-38)
Jesus cleansed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19).
Exorcisms
Jesus cured a boy who was plagued by a demon (Matthew 17:14-21)
Jesus cast out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23-28).
Power Over Nature
Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).
Jesus caused the fig tree to wither (Matthew 21:18-22).
Raising the Dead
Jesus raised the widow's son from the dead (Luke 7:11-18).
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46).
17. Miracles as Signs
Christ’s miracles were called “signs” b/c they were symbols
of Christ’ divinity. A miracle is a physical manifestation or
proof of God’s presence to his people.
Example: raising of Lazarus Jesus challenged the people to
believe in him.
Christ didn’t use his miraculous powers to heal everyone
b/c it wasn’t his mission on earth.
His mission was to liberate humanity from enslavement to
sin, which leads to death (not only physically but spiritually
as well).
The greatest evil is spiritual and this is what Jesus came to
save us from.
Even when he heals someone like the paralytic at the pool,
he forgives his sins as the highlight of the action.
18. The Glory of the Transfiguration
The final sign (miracle) was the transfiguration of
Jesus. (Read page 83)
Watch the video - Were Jesus' miracles real?
19. Conclusion
Everything Christ did in his
early life was directed toward
our redemption! His miracles
were sings of his divinity and
his power of spiritual healing.