Following our reflection yesterday on the need for inner transformation to effect real and deep change, we conclude our week revisiting a passage in John on the same theme:
John 1:29-34Every so often an innovation comes along which changes the game. The product remains the same, but once this innovation is launched, what was once perfectly acceptable is no longer adequate. Think graphite tennis rackets replacing wooden ones at the end of the 70s/early 80s. Think the iPhone being launched in 2007. It’s still the same thing, but at the same time entirely different.
In the journey of faith, the coming of Christ produces the same effect. It’s still the same God we worship – yesterday, today and forever – but the New Covenant gives us direct access to this God in a new way. And the sign and seal of this deeper, more intimate relationship with God is baptism. The word means ‘dipped’, but as the passage makes clear we need two ‘dippings’. John baptism was with water (v26, v31, v33) – a baptism of cleansing and repentance. An external sign of an inward attitude – profound, yes; important, certainly; but with no power in itself to change the heart. It relied on human effort to achieve the intention.
Jesus comes, though, with a game-changer. Jesus will baptise – ‘dip’ – us with the Spirit (v33). In other words, the presence of God coming into our hearts, the power of His love transforming us from the inside out. It’s a game-changer.
And what held true then still holds true today. We all need both baptisms – of water and Spirit – but it is the latter which empowers us day by day. Water baptism is about initiation. Spirit baptism is about intimacy. And the great news is that this intimacy is available to all believers, everywhere, every day. It’s not a one-off, but a continuous flow of the water of life into our hearts.
It also casts us back to God’s grace. It’s so easy for us to try and rely solely on our efforts and good intentions. But even one of the great holy people – John the Baptist – knew that it wasn’t enough. We need to be deeply dipped in God’s Spirit.
So today, give thanks that you are not alone, your walk with God does not depend all on your own efforts. What a relief! And pray to be filled – dipped – again in the love, presence and power of God by the Holy Spirit.