The Heaven Was Opened

unto a Man. Was “split asunder,” Mark, in his graphic manner, testifies. What a sight, beloved reader, the heavens rent open, and all their brightness smiling upon this earth no, not upon this earth, but upon the Man, Christ Jesus, who will yet bring this earth into blessing. This was more than the glory of God coming out of heaven shining upon the earth for a moment when the holy Babe was born. The heavens, long grieved because of human sin, opened in perfect satisfaction upon one Man, Who perfectly pleased God. Jesus alone unites heaven with earth. Man is at a distance from God. In Christ we who were afar off are brought nigh. But we are brought near by His blood, Who knew no sin, and was so full of moral excellence, that being upon earth, heaven must needs delight itself by opening upon Him.
Then from the opened heaven the Holy Ghost descended upon the Lord in bodily shape as a dove, and a voice arose from heaven—