“Turn and See Something New”

John 1:29-42

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." The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!"

John baptizes Jesus and then he says he sees the Spirit descend like a dove and remain on Jesus.  Why does John use the language of water and dove to connect Jesus to being anointed to be the  Lamb of God?  It might be as a way to connect the Spirit that Jesus draws us toward with the very real and earthy components of nature.  The infusion of the Spirit into not only this singular man Jesus, but into all the earth. That is what I think of in the Pentecost story too, when it says "there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind" and it entered the whole room where the disciples were.  The scriptures are good at using the elements of water, air, earth and fire to connect us to the Divine with us.  That partly relates to the real connection ancient people made to their environment. But it is helpful even now to guide us to the reality that God is in and among all of life.

In this story, though, John shares with us that Jesus is the key to our life ahead.  He shares the baptism story and the miraculous way the Spirit alights particularly on Jesus like a dove.  And then the next day he shares  with two disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God.   Emphasizing the real and important role Jesus takes as a connector... bridging any divide between humankind and God. Perhaps we can connect the two.  Jesus as one who guides us to the Spirit and the Spirit's infusion in all of our life and natural world enveloping us in God's love.

What parts of our natural world connects you most to the Spirit?  When have you been in the natural world and felt for sure, without a doubt, that God is in that moment with you?  Have you ever been driving down the road and just had to pull over and catch your breath because the scenery around you was so breathtaking?  Or maybe the scenery wasn't breathtaking, but you felt God with you in nature in some way?

I remember a time I felt like that with some of you.  The day we had vespers at Rocky Mountain National Park two summers ago was not a good weather day. We had hail and pouring rain some of the day.  There were puddles all around us at the amphitheater as we gathered for the service.  But the service itself felt holy. And just before we finished, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds and trees. And I swear you could feel the Spirit descend like a dove and sit there among us.

Thoughts? Stories to share? Email me or comment below.