The Spirit of Creation

Sometimes, we lose our sense of identity and our sense of worth.

We become distracted both by pains & pleasures.

We may move away from everything we once knew.

We need to be reminded through something visceral, real; something we can’t ignore.

John was preparing people to receive the Kingdom of Heaven through demonstrating repentance in baptism.

They confessed their sins in order to be reconciled back into relationship with God.

John proclaimed that the one coming after him would be more powerful, baptizing those who confessed and believed with the Holy Spirit.

Then, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee to be baptized by John.

If Jesus was one who never sinned, we should ask, why was he intentionally going to be baptized by John?

Vs. 10-11 says as “Jesus was coming up out of the water, HE SAW heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Here in the Gospel of Mark, IT IS JESUS that “saw heaven being TORN OPEN and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” And hearing a voice from heaven saying “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark emphasized the experience of Jesus at this divinely appointed moment.

In this moment:

The boundary between Heaven and Earth is torn open.

The Spirit presence manifests with gentleness and peace.

The Father’s powerful voice is heard.

Jesus’ identity is affirmed as the Son of God.

Jesus’ worth to God is affirmed as loved and pleasing.

Remember, before Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed his coming, he was given a name that means “the one who saves,” would be called great, and be called the Son of the Most High God (lit. El Elyon, God the Highest), and the Spirit of God came upon Mary that Jesus might be born.

Here God, Father, Spirit commune together with the Son.

Together God affirmed just who Jesus is and moves him to begin his ministry, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to the Earth.

Gen. 1:1-5 In the beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the chaotic “waters” of Creation, and the Spirit who was the person by which the Word of God/Voice of the Lord gave Creation light in darkness and separated night from day.

This same divine person and power of Creation came upon Mary and upon Jesus that this new life and new ministry would be birthed to bring in the Kingdom of God.

This is why in Acts, Paul asked Apollos’ disciples if they had received the Holy Spirit, who is imparted on Jesus’ disciples in baptism.

Paul showed by this occurrence that John’s baptism was clearly different from Jesus’ baptism.

John baptized to prepare the people through repentance to receive Jesus as the Son of God when he came to them.

Jesus’ baptism with the Holy Spirit did not just draw people to repentance but also filled believers with the very same Holy Spirit of God that they might have part with him.

By receiving the Holy Spirit we are never left alone.

The same Holy Spirit that was active in Creation is active in Re-Creation.

We are literally made new Creations, new Beings, we are Born Again into the life of God.

Some of you have been baptized into the Church as a person of God soon after birth.

Others came to God later in life and were baptized into the life of God.

However, we have sinned since then.

For a long time and sometimes still do, people believed that once you have been baptized, you cannot fall away from God, but many more understood that people often sinned later and fell away from God, and they asked, how could anyone believe they are still a believer in Jesus Christ and act as he said nothing about sin?

Their words and actions condemned them.

Matthew 12:37 NIV

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

John 3:18 NIV

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

We have lost our way.

We need something visceral to remind us who we are.

Water baptism ushered us into the life of the Spirit.

Remembering our baptism rekindles the life of the Spirit within us.

All that which God promised to his people and all that we have promised to God is remembered.

This is why it is imperative for us to listen and respond to the creative activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives to reform and reshape us into the image of God in Jesus Christ.

That may mean we are convicted for our sinful words and actions. It will not be comfortable but being forgiven will restore you and give you peace.

Thank God that the Father calls us back to him.

Thank God for the way that was opened to the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ.

Thank God for the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit that re-creates us to be Holy as He is Holy.

Thank God that we and all others are able to be remade as new creations through Jesus Christ.

Let us pray that God continues to cleanse us all from all sin and re-create all of Creation as holy.

Commit to be filled and always listen to the powerful and creative word and work of the Spirit.

By the Spirit you will be filled with power to spread the holiness throughout Springtown, Hellertown, the County and the whole world.

Lord let it be so, Amen.