The Holy Spirit as a DOVE

by Anne Linington⁽²⁰⁷⁾ Red Star

http://Faithwriters.com

CD - Celtic Journey, Ray Simpson, Track 8

The account of the Holy Spirit appearing as a Dove at Christ's Baptism, is only part of the Biblical record of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ.

Isaiah prophesies a Messiah , God's servant, who will have the anointing of the Spirit of God Is 42:1; 49:1; 61:1

When Christ stands in the Synagogue at Nazareth his home town, he reads from this same passage- the scroll of Isaiah:

“ The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour"

Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

The eyes of everyone in the Synagofue were upon him- Jesus, son of the Carpenter, a Carpenter himself, growing up in a Jewish family with them in Nazareth...

Then he says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing"

Luke 4:21

This scripture is about me!

He is the one about whom Isaiah prohesied 700 years earlier. It's about me.

Christ's Virgin birth is the result of the Holy Spirit “overshadowing Mary "- so we say in the Creed:

“ For us and for our salvation,

He came down from Heaven

And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man"

Because Christ was “conceived of the Holy Spirit", though truly human, he did not carry the inherent sin with which mankind has been born since Adam sinned;

Christ is a new Adam- a new man, come to redeem all that was lost through the fall- death, separation from God, pain and sickness- he began this in his earthly ministry, and it will find its ultimate realization in a New Heaven and earth where the old order of death, tears, sickness, sorrow will pass away “Behold I make all things new" Rev 21

Again, Jesus was raised from dead by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you.

Our future resurrection is dependent on the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us by faith in Christ- assuring us that we are God's children, that God is our heavenly Father.- this Spirit on Sonship by which we say “Abba Father" .

The Holy Spirit testifies or witnesses to our spirit that we are God's children, so we have this assurance in our hearts.

So Christ's Baptism, comes within this series of events reminding us of the Holy Spirit's activity in the life of Jesus.

Jesus came to be baptised at the Jordan, not because he had sins of which to repent- like the crowds that John baptised , but because he wanted to identify himself with mankind

at the beginning of his ministry.

John the Baptist was told by God that the one on whom he saw the Spirit descend like a dove, was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"

John the Baptist is the eye-witness to the event, and John the apostle later records it in his Gospel

Another reference back to the Creation narrative: In Genesis 1:2 The Spirit “hovers" or broods over the water;

At Christ's Baptism, the Spirit “remains" / rests on him- same word as Jesus uses to tell the disciples to remain in his love, and He remains in his Fathers love.

“ At the Baptism of Jesus, the Spirit of God hovered over water for a second time, bringing to life a new creation by resting on this new head of mankind.

Hastings

Poem: Wilderness Blessing by Jan Richards from “The Painted Prayerbook

Article submitted Tuesday, May 24, 2011 & read 133 times.

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