The baptism that John the Baptist administered was more than a bath, but not quite what we know as baptism. It was a ritual submersion in the river to enact symbolically the spiritual work of repentance entered into by those who flocked out to the desert to hear John’s message. John knew this was a rite of preparation, not the whole deal.
John was clear about his mission, to help people prepare for a revelation of God no one could truly anticipate - not even John. Who could imagine God incarnate until experiencing that mystery? John only knew that the One to come was more powerful and holy than could be conceived. He had one job: to invite repentance, a clearing of spiritual space. His water ritual could convey that reality. Beyond that was another baptism that only Christ could effect: baptism in the Spirit.
“He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”
What does it mean to be “baptized with the Holy Spirit?” The way some Pentecostals use that language can make “mainline religious folks” kind of twitchy. But here it is, right in the gospels. What do we suppose it means? To Pentecostals, it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point where there is a discernible manifestation, some indication of spiritual gifts having been imparted. This seems to have been what Paul’s Corinthian congregations believed, focused as they were on discernible manifestations of the Spirit’s power like speaking in tongues or prophesy.
But what might “baptism in the Spirit” mean to us? Let’s try a thought experiment. Imagine being submerged in water, which is the way many people are actually baptized. Take a moment to let yourself experience it in your mind. What happens when you sink into deep water? You get wet all over; the water even gets into your nose and mouth. Depending on temperature, you might find yourself pleasantly warmed or cooled, refreshed, comforted. And you find yourself supported by the water’s density; it’s not all up to you.
Let’s assume that’s what baptism in the Spirit means: we are drenched and we are filled with the Spirit of the Living God, uniting with our spirit to fill us with Life. We might find ourselves getting very warm, or cool – we feel energy coming into us, and we are refreshed. We find ourselves in the presence of another Presence – we are not alone. We are vessels of power from outside us. It’s not all up to us.
How I wish every Christ-follower would crave being filled with the Holy Spirit, would ardently seek spiritual gifts to support them in the ministries to which they feel called. The Holy Spirit is the Gift that gives more gifts, that is always replenishing us – as we ask. For some reason, the Spirit seems to want our invitation.
If you desire a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit, pray for it, or ask someone you believe to be Spirit-filled to pray with you. Be open to the sensations you might experience. Be open to not experiencing anything in that moment – you might only later know something has changed.
The Holy Spirit is our gift at baptism, renewed in eucharist, replenished whenever we are active in God’s mission to reclaim, restore and renew all of creation. In fact, the Spirit is how we find ourselves reclaimed, restored and renewed. You can never ask too often for the Spirit's baptism.
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