The Serpent and the Dove wk 2

Do you believe in coincidence?

Non-believers claim coincidence.

As a believer, it would be pretty hard to do.

So if we can be on the same page and say:

The creation of the universe is not a coincidence. 

The creation of man was not a coincidence. 

The serpent’s deception was not a coincidence. 

Therefore, the fall was not a coincidence. 

So our need for atonement was not a coincidence. 

Therefore, Jesus dying on the cross was not a coincidence. 

Ok, we got that out of the way.

The Dove

We’re talking about the dove this week.

I’m going to take some of this in a slightly different direction.

Let’s get a little biblical background on this dove.

Because Y’ALL KNOW I love context and background to the Bible.

Shameless plug, that’s why I’m going to school for it.

The First Mention of a Dove

The first time a dove is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 8:8.

Noah sends out a dove after the raven to look for a place to land.

Now remember, we’re not going to call anything a coincidence today.

The dove was sent out to search for a place to rest.

Fun fact, many scholars believe the majority of Genesis creates what is called a chiasm, pointing towards the importance of resting with God.

Back to the story:

He sends it out a second time, and it comes back with an olive leaf.

The leaf of the tree that in history signified peace.

Followed later by a covenant of peace from God in the rainbow.

The Bible Uses Doves Again

Y’all think the Bible uses doves some more?

The answer is yes.

I mean, half our series is planned around a dove.

It would be weird if this was the only place it was mentioned.

Offerings and Sacrifice

Moving on, we are going to get into Leviticus, the book of law, or the Torah.

Doves are mentioned a few times here.

First, it’s mentioned in Leviticus 5:7.

Read it.

Now the significance here is that no one is too poor for forgiveness.

Because even in the Old Testament, the forgiveness of God was not supposed to be out of reach to those who could not afford it financially.

We will come back to this.

Doves and Birth

In the Torah, if a woman gives birth, when her days of purification are complete, she must bring a dove or young pigeon as a sin offering.

Or two if she cannot afford an animal from the flock for her burnt offering.

Interesting, isn’t it?

That a dove was also sacrificed in the ritual of birth.

Hmmmmmmm.

WHAT A COINCIDENCE!

Cleansing the Temple

Do y’all know the story about Jesus “cleansing the temple?”

Mark 11:15

Read it.

He found people selling the animals used for offerings and sacrifices.

There’s a good amount of speculation to things like:

The cost was higher in the temple because they were “certified” pure for offerings.

But the point is:

It’s mentioned in the Bible what was being sold.

And we know from Leviticus the animals, including the dove, are being sold.

The Gospels and Jesus Being Baptized

Speaking of a coincidence…

How about not one, not two, not even three, but four separate Gospel writers telling the testimony of Jesus being baptized.

All four state the Spirit of God rested on Jesus.

Interesting, isn’t it?

The first time the Bible talked about a dove, it was looking for a place to rest.

Now we have four separate men, with four different backgrounds:

a tax collector 

a doctor 

a fisherman 

a follower of Paul 

Four different timelines.

And yet, the Spirit was a dove.

Followed by God’s statement:

“This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Spirit Available to Us

Now before we close, I want to point something out.

The Spirit of God rested on Jesus.

God claimed Him as His Son.

God said He was pleased with Him.

But then Jesus does something incredible.

He does not leave His followers empty.

In Acts 2, when the day of Pentecost arrived, the followers of Jesus were gathered together.

And the Holy Spirit filled them.

The same Spirit that rested on Jesus was now filling the followers of Jesus.

So this dove is not just something we see in Noah.

It is not just something we see in sacrifice.

It is not just something we see at Jesus’ baptism.

This same Spirit is now available to the people of God.

Close

Take a moment.

Hear this.

The Bible is not full of coincidence.

God wanted us to see the big picture.

Jesus died for our sins.

He was the sacrifice.

Because the Spirit of God, in the form of a dove, came from heaven to rest on Him.

The symbol of sacrifice for those who were too poor for something “better” is what God used.

Sounds familiar, right?

Think of who Jesus spent His time with.

Think of who He healed.

This Spirit is for everyone.

And all you have to do is open yourself up to it.

All you have to do is claim it.

Even Jesus was baptized.

Even Jesus made the proclamation of His faith in God.

If you haven’t yet, I get it.

It’s scary.

We’re not talking about a life choice.

We’re talking about an eternal one.

What if everything gets harder?

What if I’m held accountable for actions differently?

What if, what if, what if?

No.

Because when you claim your faith in God, and you receive that Spirit, God said:

“This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Because He LOVES you.

And He is waiting for you.

Take this time.

Receive the Spirit.

Let it rest on you.

And find peace in it.