The Gift

I was twelve years old when I encountered Jesus for the first time. He sought me, transformed me, and changed my life forever. I wasn't looking for him, but he was looking for me. I didn't know I needed him. But after one glimpse of life with him, I knew I never wanted to be without. Soon after that, I was baptized. 

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 

in the name of Jesus Christ for the 

forgiveness of your sins. 

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38

In the book of Acts, Peter calls the crowd to be baptized for both the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But what about baptism before the Holy Spirit was first made accessible? In Mark Chapter 1, we are introduced to John the Baptist. He was sent to prepare the world for Christ. Take a look at verses four and five:

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 

preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. 

Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Mark 1:4-5

Notice that baptism began only as an outward sign of faith and forgiveness. John acknowledged the need of baptism, but he understood that Jesus would be a game changer. In Mark 1:7-8 John says:

 "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps 

of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism is a sincere expression of faith; a beautiful symbol of Christ's death, burial and resurrection; a washing away of sin; and a gift of God dwelling within us. The people of Jesus' day probably didn't understand all that baptism entailed. After all, Jesus hadn't even died yet. But the power of baptism wasn't limited to their understandings. They were sought and transformed before they had all the answers. They, like myself, responded even before they fully understood the implications of what it meant to be a Christ follower. 

 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was 

baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, 

he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 

And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; 

with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:9-11

God was glorified in Jesus' baptism. He is also glorified in ours! May baptism not be overlooked by believers, but rather treated as a the sacrament that it is. Whether young or old, new to the faith or seasoned...Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Questions to Ponder:

1. What is your baptism story?

2. What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit?

3. Why was Jesus baptized before he began his public ministry?