This past Sunday, we were reminded that God breaks into our "messy" lives to include us in grace, love, protection, giving us a place to call "home." God breaks into our everyday, normal lives.
4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins.6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
Mark 1: 4-11 gives me an epiphany, "a realization that the gospel is down to earth. grounded in the real, tactile, sensual, world. So that's where God is; God is here. These verses make reference to river water, clothing from camels, diet from bugs, and tying shoes, a bird analogy, and an interesting weather phenomenon." Mark's gospel here, provides an "earthiness."
In our woprship of the God who is here, may we be challenged by these verses to praise the real God (God is not abstract) who really loves us and has really embraced us by water and the Spirit, and by daily love and grace.
"Spirit is the real substance of God acting in creation...and yet Spirit is always tied to material---real water, bread, wine" and the elements of baptism.
See you Sunday!
Quotes taken from Elton Brown, Feasting on the Word.
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