One with God
In today's reading John gives us another name for Jesus. He is the Lamb of God.
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ - John 1:29-34
In Matthew's Gospel which is read today, we have Jesus being baptized with water by John the Baptist who sees the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus like a dove.
In John's Gospel, John the Baptist explains what it means. He calls Jesus the Lamb of God, which tells us that Jesus is to be the sacrifice that atones for our sins.
But John also tells us that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This is the baptism that we know today, with water and the Spirit. It makes us Christ's own, and heirs to God's Kingdom.
The idea that we can come back to God regardless of our sins is huge. It means the sacrifice God made in becoming one with us is everlasting. It opens the door for reconciliation at all times, no matter what we have done.
Those who receive the Holy Spirit in baptism know this. We know we are always able to tap into the Spirit to reposition ourselves in God's light, and so our lives are full.
If we can choose to be One with God, why not do so?
When we know we have discovered something special, something that makes our lives better, don't we want to let others know so they can have the same experience?
Today, as we remember the Baptism of Jesus by John, maybe we should think of whom we might invite to experience the same.
More to come...