RUSSELL SANDERS
12-2-2025
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS’ POWER

Six days before the Mount of Transfiguration event, Jesus spoke to all the people saying in Mark 9:1, “Verily (truly) I say unto you, that there (will) be some of them that stand here (with you), which shall not taste death, ‘til they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.”

Jesus had already preached that the Kingdom of God had arrived. It came through Him, His incarnation, and his soon coming death and resurrection. But what was this mention of power?

He predicted that power for the believers, followers, and participants of the Kingdom of heaven would be given a few days after His ascension back to heaven.

Jesus’ final words to about 400 followers just before his ascension were spoken in Acts 1:8, “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Acts 2:4 fulfilled that promise where it said, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages they had never learned), as the (Holy) Spirit gave them utterance (the ability to speak those languages).”

This baptism of power would be given at Pentecost. This came upon them with a unique manifestation of “…tongues of fire…” (vs. 3) upon their heads. This is what we call “the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

They had already received the indwelling of the Holy Ghost when Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22. This was their first work of grace. The second work of grace was given at Pentecost to give them the power to do all the works that Jesus had done as he had promised in John 14:12-14.

This baptism of power was given subsequent to the baptism into the body of Christ at salvation. It is still available to all believers who desire it and ask earnestly for it. (Acts 2:39.)