On The Wings Of A Dove

On the Wings of a Dove

To my dear friend Brandi,

On this day of your baptism, you are born again in Christ through water and Holy Spirit.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! – 1 John 3:1

As believers, our self-worth is based on the fact that God loves us and calls us his children. We are his children now, not just sometime in the distant future. Knowing that we are his children should encourage us to live as Jesus did.

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire – Matthew 3:11

John baptized people as a sign that they had asked God to forgive their sins and had decided to live as he wanted them to live. Baptism was an outward sign to commitment. To be effective, it had to be accompanied by an inward change of attitude leading to a changed life – the work of the Holy Spirit. John said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. This looked ahead to Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus in the form of tongues of fire, empowering his followers to preach the gospel. John’s statement also symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing God’s judgment on those who refuse to repent. Everyone will one day be baptized – either now by God’s Holy Spirit, or later by the fire of his judgment.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am pleased.” – Like 3:21-22

Luke emphasizes Jesus’ human nature. Jesus was born to humble parents, a birth unannounced except to Sheppard’s and foreigners. This baptism recorded here was the first public declaration of Jesus’ ministry. Instead of going to Jerusalem and identifying with the established religious leaders, Jesus identified with those who were repenting their sin. When Jesus, at the age of 12, had visited the temple, he understood his mission (2:49). Eighteen years later, at his baptism, he began to carry it out. And as Jesus prayed, God spoke and confirmed his decision to act. God was breaking into human history through Jesus the Christ.

Sharing in your joy and gratitude as you are baptized. Congratulations and blessings!

With love, your friend,

Doug