Introduction
On Friday morning before sitting down to write this I was baptised! In other words I was absolutely drenched by the pouring rain when I walked the dogs. That is what the word “baptism – baptise” means – to soak or drench. We are so used to it’s ritual meaning that we don’t often think about where the word came from. Apparently there is an ancient Greek text of a recipe which speaks about baptising olives in oil, soaking them.
However we perform baptism ritually an essential part of the understanding behind it is this being soaked in God.
When Jesus came forwards for baptism John was initially reluctant. He realised that Jesus was more important than him and that he was more in need of baptism from Jesus. Nevertheless Jesus submits to the baptism of John and as He comes out of the water Jesus sees the Holy Spirit come and rest on Him and hears the affirming voice of His Father.
If an essential aspect of baptism is being soaked in God, then the anointing of the Holy Spirit is how we experience this. In fact many people speak about being baptised in the Spirit.
Baptism of / in the Holy Spirit
It is very noticeable that immediately following His baptism and anointing Jesus is described as being “led by the Spirit” Matt.4:1 and embarks on his public ministry. Our other readings today (Isaiah 42:1-9 & Acts 10:34-43) firstly prophecy that the coming Messiah would be Spirit-filled then preach that He was “anointed with the Holy Spirit and power”. In fact one of the commonest ways of describing Jesus was to testify that He was full of the Holy Spirit. What did this empowering with the Spirit look like, how can we recognise the Spirit at work in someone’s life?
Prophecy Isaiah 42:1-9
It starts with God – He pours out His Spirit on whom he chooses. “I will put my Spirit on him” v.1 In O.T. times this was very much the way in which the Spirit was manifest, poured out on specific people at specific times for specific tasks.
The next thing we see is that the anointing of the Spirit was for the healing of the nations. People often think of the Spirit’s anointing as being one for personal blessing or the building up of the church but the primary focus is “the nations” as Isaiah puts it. Specifically to bring about righteousness and justice. (aside on righteousness / being put right with God through Jesus)
When we think about bringing righteousness and justice to the nations I suspect we think of something like a UN peace-keeping force or even the so-called war on terror. The way in which the Holy Spirit operates is quite different. “A bruised reed he will not break, a smouldering wick he will not snuff out” v.3 More actively than the preservation of the vulnerable Isaiah says that the anointed one will: “open eyes that are blind, free captives from prison and release those who are in dark dungeons” v.7
This is what was prophesied, did it happen?
Preached Acts 10:34-43
Peter addressing the crowd who had assembled at Cornelius’ house makes it very plain that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Jesus.
“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ….how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil…..all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in his name receives forgiveness of sins” vv.36,38,43.
Jesus himself answers the disciples of John the Baptist when they wonder if he really his the anointed one “Go back to John and report what you hear and see, the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the good news is preached to the poor” Matt.11:4-5.
In other words what was prophesied took place and is now preached.
Practised
If we read on from where the Acts reading ended we find the Holy Spirit being poured out on the assembled company: “While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message” Acts 10:44 The same Spirit prophesied by Isaiah and which anointed Jesus at His baptism is poured out on all disciples of Jesus both then and now. As Peter says “They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have” v.47.
Today may we be drenched in the Spirit. Reminding us of the forgiveness of sins we have through Jesus and empowering us to be his witnesses in the world.