The Significance of Jesus' Baptism and Its Implications

At his baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the form of a dove...not an eagle. The eagle was the representative bird of the Roman Empire. As a symbol of power and might eagles were affixed atop Roman military standards. Hawks and doves, then as now, are symbolic of war and peace, violence and gentleness. Empires have long adopted eagles and lions as their emblems -- birds and beasts of prey. Furthermore, Roman religion believed that an eagle in flight over the Caesar (who bore the title "Son of God") was a sign of divine pleasure -- the gods were "well pleased." That Jesus was identified as God's beloved Son by a dove and not an eagle is very instructive, deeply subversive, and absolutely beautiful. Put simply, the Holy Spirit is a dove, not a hawk.