At the beginning of any major faith beginning there
is a ritual of renunciation, a turning away and of purification and commitment
to a new way of being. For the Jews this involved a purification in water, one
of the lakes or rivers. Hindus do the same in the Ganges. We can
reckon to date the ministry of John the Baptist, and by implication, the
commencement of the ministry of Jesus, at AD 27-29.
The Word of God came to Zechariah's son John in the
desert - a place of reflection, retreat and revelation. Probably the wilderness
is the area north west of the Dead Sea, leading into the Jordan valley. John's
ministry covered the whole of Jordan, preaching - communicating, proclaiming.
It was authoritative-a baptism by immersion-used to describe water immersion,
but also overwhelmed in/by/with the Spirit. This represents repentance for the
forgiveness of sins expressed outwardly in water baptism, imaging cleansing.
Repentance in Hebrew involves a turning back /
returning to God, rather than an expression of sorrow. Good deeds are not a
necessary component of the inward act of repentance. Forgiveness does not rest
on the deeds (fruit), but on a turning toward God.
John was baptizing all Israel with water but one
more powerful was coming whose sandels he was unworthy to untie. He will
baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And the day of judgment is at hand
to clean out, to gather up and burn with unquenchable fire- a fire that can't
be put out, alluding to the rubbish dump outside Jerusalem that was constantly
burning and often used to image the horror of judgment, although not
necessarily "eternal" judgment.
Serious spiritual action is taking place on the
margins, in the desert. We know who he is even if others don’t. The
Messiah is introduced with his contrary take. The gospel is good news of
victory usually the glad tidings of empire! Jesus goes forward from the
crowd to be baptized.
And we have the advent of an anointed leader who
proclaims a kingdom. A challenge to imperial gospel. And a voice from off
stage, the prophet Isaiah says ,”This is my Beloved son”, quoting Psalms,
the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, Jesus of Nazareth! From Galillee a poor, marginal
place. "Thou art my son, today I have begotten thee". Isaiah
42:1 comes from the ordination liturgy of the Servant of the Lord, the Servant
whose journey is one of suffering. Could this Jesus be the fulfillment of
ancient prophecies? Jesus' baptism was followed by the temptation and a call to
the wilderness.
In Jewish and Christian understanding the Spirit
usually comes upon a person to set them apart to lead different lives from the
norm more in tune with God and the Spirit of God is often symbolised by a dove,
also a symbol for us of peace. So the Spirit comes to Jesus, sets him apart,
equips him for service, to proclaim good news to the lost, to heal the broken
hearted and announce freedom to the captives, Isa.61:1.
So as we begin our Christian journeys we are
baptised as babies or as adults (Ive done both!) And as we start this New Year
we commit ourselves to Gods path and Gods resolutions because we are on a
soul journey that takes a lifetime.
