It is in John 1:29-42 that we get the gospel writer’s depiction of Jesus’ baptism. As Pastor Hartsell noted in his sermon this past Sunday (The Baptism of our Lord,) John’s gospel does not have the story of Jesus’ baptism, only the transition of attention from the Baptist to Jesus.
John sees Jesus “coming toward him, and said ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’” He reports that he “saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on (Jesus).”
It is our theology, that at our baptism, this same Spirit takes the same course of action. It is the Spirit which then guides us in to the way of sanctification.
How strong is that presence in your life? How aware of you of the guidance of the Spirit? As westerners, we tend to live in our heads. It is our thoughts which dominate. Even when we try to speak of matters of the heart, we use cognitive language.
“The Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.”
Give this a one day trial – each time you are faced with a decision ask how the Spirit might feel about the options. Whenever you are engaged in a discussion, consider whether that conversation would be pleasing to the Spirit who is listening in. Develop within yourself the ability to perceive the presence of this Spirit; the ability to draw guidance from this Spirit.
We often do a better job remembering our baptism than we do remembering the gift of the Spirit. Both are given to us; both are a part of who we are. Learning to live into this new reality is what occupies our journey of faith.
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