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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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John 1:32
Comments
Although John’s Gospel does not record the baptism of Jesus, it assumes that we know the what took place from the other gospels, and it is woven into the John’s account. The Spirit of God does not have a body, but just for the occasion he was symbolised as a dove, and came down in visible form so that all present could see this deeply significant anointing of Christ at the beginning of his ministry. The Greek word Christ and the equivalent Hebrew word Messiah both mean the anointed one. Whereas the priests of the Old Testament were anointed with oil by God’s prophet at the start of their ministry as were the kings of Israel, Christ was anointed with what that oil symbolised: the Spirit of the Living God, the third person of the Trinity. He was made our Prophet, Priest and King.
Application
The dove is the symbol of peace, gentleness and friendship, signifying what sort of spirit he would be of, and how those who came to him for pardon and forgiveness would not be condemned but would receive grace, mercy and peace.
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