Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Mark 1:6-8: "Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'"
John the Baptist would surely have been an interesting sight! He lived in the wilderness, wore garments of camel's hair with a leather belt wrapped around his waist, had locust legs stuck in his teeth, and honey smeared on his face. Despite this exquisite description of John, the multitudes went to him confessing their sins and receiving the baptism of repentance. Though odd, there was something incredibly powerful about John.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the angel who came to Zechariah while he was serving in the temple. The angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would bear a son, that his name would be John, and that he would be great in the eyes of the Lord (Luke 1:13-14). In fact, John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). Jesus spoke about John the Baptist, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11). John was the forerunner to the Messiah and the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
John the Baptist had a powerful calling on his life, and he fulfilled his role to make the way for Jesus. Despite John's power, magnitude, influence, and impact, he recognized that he was not worthy to even serve as Jesus' slave. In ancient times, only the lowest of the slaves would be tasked with the job of untying one's sandals. It was the lowest of the low jobs! In fact, teachers of that day could ask their students to do anything for them except to untie their sandal. It was a dirty job!
Think about what John the Baptist said here: he was not worthy to untie Jesus' sandal. Remember that John was Jesus' cousin. They had grown up together and attended all the religious festivals together. They knew each other well. John's words about Jesus were profound and certainly affirmed the deity of his cousin. Where John could baptize them in water, Jesus could baptize them into God. The word "baptize" means to immerse. Again, John could immerse the people into water where Jesus could immerse people into the Godhead. John didn't want people to be content with water baptism but to seek the greater baptism of the Spirit. Water baptism could ritually wash away the sins and impurities of the people, but baptism of the Holy Spirit could change their hearts and lives.
We, too, are offered baptism by water and baptism by the Holy Spirit. Often the two go together. The key question to ask is, has my life been changed by the presence of God within me? Does the Holy Spirit convict me of sin and lead me in righteousness? If not, the Lord has more for you. Will you ask him to pour out his Holy Spirit in abundance on you today? It is a prayer that he loves to answer!
Reflection:
Do you know of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Have you activated the work, presence, and power of that Spirit in your life? If not, what is holding you back?
John the Baptist would surely have been an interesting sight! He lived in the wilderness, wore garments of camel's hair with a leather belt wrapped around his waist, had locust legs stuck in his teeth, and honey smeared on his face. Despite this exquisite description of John, the multitudes went to him confessing their sins and receiving the baptism of repentance. Though odd, there was something incredibly powerful about John.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the angel who came to Zechariah while he was serving in the temple. The angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would bear a son, that his name would be John, and that he would be great in the eyes of the Lord (Luke 1:13-14). In fact, John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). Jesus spoke about John the Baptist, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11). John was the forerunner to the Messiah and the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
John the Baptist had a powerful calling on his life, and he fulfilled his role to make the way for Jesus. Despite John's power, magnitude, influence, and impact, he recognized that he was not worthy to even serve as Jesus' slave. In ancient times, only the lowest of the slaves would be tasked with the job of untying one's sandals. It was the lowest of the low jobs! In fact, teachers of that day could ask their students to do anything for them except to untie their sandal. It was a dirty job!
Think about what John the Baptist said here: he was not worthy to untie Jesus' sandal. Remember that John was Jesus' cousin. They had grown up together and attended all the religious festivals together. They knew each other well. John's words about Jesus were profound and certainly affirmed the deity of his cousin. Where John could baptize them in water, Jesus could baptize them into God. The word "baptize" means to immerse. Again, John could immerse the people into water where Jesus could immerse people into the Godhead. John didn't want people to be content with water baptism but to seek the greater baptism of the Spirit. Water baptism could ritually wash away the sins and impurities of the people, but baptism of the Holy Spirit could change their hearts and lives.
We, too, are offered baptism by water and baptism by the Holy Spirit. Often the two go together. The key question to ask is, has my life been changed by the presence of God within me? Does the Holy Spirit convict me of sin and lead me in righteousness? If not, the Lord has more for you. Will you ask him to pour out his Holy Spirit in abundance on you today? It is a prayer that he loves to answer!
Reflection:
Do you know of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Have you activated the work, presence, and power of that Spirit in your life? If not, what is holding you back?
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