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 water to enact symbolically the repentance entered into by those who flocked out to the desert to hear John’s message. Even John knew this was a rite of preparation, not the whole deal.
John knew he had a mission, to help prepare people for a revelation of God no one could truly anticipate - not even John. Who could imagine God incarnate before experiencing that mystery? John only knew that the One to come was holier and more powerful 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 with the Holy Spirit.
[John] 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?” Such "Pentecostal" language can make mainline religious folks kind of twitchy. But here it is, right in the gospels. What do we suppose it means? In some traditions, it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point where there is a discernible manifestation, some indication that spiritual gifts have been imparted. This was what it meant to Paul’s Corinthian congregation, who were very focused on discernible manifestations of the Spirit’s power like speaking in tongues or prophesying.
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 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 differential with the air, you might find yourself pleasantly warmed or cooled, refreshed, comforted. You are 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 bathed 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 come 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.
I wish more Christians 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. Be open to the sensations you might experience. Be open to not experiencing anything in that moment – you might know something has changed later on.
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 to wholeness. In fact, the Spirit is how we find ourselves reclaimed, restored and renewed.
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