Jesus is baptised by John in the Jordan
and the heavens are 'torn apart'. There's
an echo here from the first Sunday of
Advent, of the prophet Isaiah crying out
to God -'Oh that you would tear open the
heavens and come down .'. And there's a
foreshadowing of the curtain in the
Temple being torn in two at Jesus' death.
Past, present and future blend together if
only for a moment.
The gentle Spirit-dove descending on
Jesus becomes the driving Spirit, sending
Jesus to the Wilderness.
The voice from heaven exclaiming 'You
are my beloved son. I'm pleased with
you.', is replaced by the voice of Satan,
ever trying to tempt.