Powerful - Advent Day 14

 And this was his message: “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.” Mark 1:7-8 (NIV)

 

Power!  The word sounds energetic, dynamic, forceful, and…well…Powerful!

At some point in our lives, we have probably wanted the raw power of Superman, the mind of Batman, and the fairness of Captain America.  John the Baptizer came as the 1st century model of these three superheroes.  While not visually as appealing, his role as forerunner of The coming Messiah, demanded physical and emotional strength.

John’s message was compelling, a Messiah as different from John as water from fire.  John arrived into a world that was tired of waiting.  His message?  I will baptize you with water, however, one is coming who will baptize you with fire, literally The Holy Spirit.

Listen to a more contemporary version of John’s words. “I am covering you with the cleansing power of water, however, one is coming who will submerge you in the refiners’ fire (The Holy Spirit).”  In other words, God’s Spirit will fill you through and through!

Baptism, it comes in two forms: water and fire.  John, the Baptizer of water.

Jesus is The Baptizer of Fire!

Powerful…God promised!  

Advent – God is coming to us.

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