CHAPTER 1 GOD, THE FATHER SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN

The One you are looking for
The Baptism of Jesus
The Transfiguration –
A change of appearance
Jesus speaks about his death

The One you are looking for
John 1:33
“…at the time God sent me to baptize he told me, ‘When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone – he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (John the Baptist)”

The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus went from his home in Galilee to the river Jordan to be baptized there by John. John didn’t want to do it. “This isn’t correct,” he said. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you.” But Jesus said, “Please do it, for I must do all that is right.” So then John baptized him.
Mark 1:9
Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the river Jordan.
Matthew 3:16-17
After his baptism, as soon as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were open to him and he saw the Spirit of God coming down in the form of a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him.”
Mark 1:10-11
The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son; you are my delight.”
Luke 3:21-23
Then one day Jesus himself joined the crowds being baptized by John. And after he was baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove settled upon him, and a voice from heaven said, “You are my much loved Son, yes, my delight.” Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.

The Transfiguration –
A change of appearance
Matthew 17:1-13
Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill. And as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”

At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”
And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
As they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.
His disciples asked, “Why do the Jewish leaders insist Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
Jesus replied, “They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order. And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Son of Mankind, shall also suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist.
Mark 9:2-13
Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain.
Suddenly his face began to shine with glory, and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
“Teacher, this is wonderful!” Peter exclaimed. “We will make three shelters here, one for each of you…”
He said this just to be talking, for he didn’t know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened.
But while he was still speaking these words, a cloud covered them, blotting out the sun, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Then suddenly they looked around and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them.
As they descended the mountain-side he told them never to mention what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves but often talked about it, and wondered what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
Now they began asking him about something the Jewish leaders often spoke of, that Elijah must return (before the Messiah could come). Jesus agreed that Elijah must come first and prepare the way – and said that he had, in fact, already come. And that he had been terribly mistreated, just as the prophets had predicted. Then Jesus asked them what the prophets could have been talking about when they predicted that the Messiah would suffer and be treated with utter contempt.
Luke 9:28-33
Jesus took Peter, James and John with him into the hills to pray. And as he was praying his face began to shine, and his clothes became dazzling white and blazed with light. Then two men appeared and began talking with him – Moses and Elijah! They were splendid in appearance, glorious to see; and they were speaking of his death at Jerusalem, to be carried out in accordance with God’s plan.
Peter and the others had been very drowsy and had fallen asleep. Now they woke up and saw Jesus covered with brightness and glory, and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, all confused and not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, this is wonderful! We’ll put up three shelters – one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah!”
But even as he was saying this, a bright cloud formed above them; and terror gripped them as it covered them. And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.”
Then as the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples. They didn’t tell anyone what they had seen until long afterwards.

Jesus speaks about his death
John 12:27-29
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Shall I pray, ‘Father, save me from what lies ahead’? But that is the very reason why I came. Father bring glory and honor to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven saying, “I have already done this, and I will do it again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder while others declared an angel had spoken to him.