The Inauguration of Christ
G. S. Barrett, B. A. Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, — The baptism of Christ was, first of all, the public announcement and inauguration of Christ to His work. John the Baptist had conic "to bear witness of the Light," and now his work was nearly done. One last act remained to be done, the solemn setting apart of the Christ to His redeeming work. The baptism closed our Lord's private life and began His public ministry. He who had gone down into the water known to men as "the Son of Mary," came up thence declared to be "the Son of God,"The baptism, with the opened heavens, and the Spirit descending like a dove, and abiding on Jesus, and the witness borne by the voice of God Himself, was the sublime inauguration of the Saviour of the world to His great mission. From that hour John's prophetic work was done. It expired, to use Davison's beautiful image, as Old Testament prophecy had expired, with "the gospel upon its tongue." (G. S. Barrett, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, WEB: Now it happened, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,