The  Messiah’s Secret – The difference between John and Jesus’ Baptisms

Isaiah 43: 1-7. Luke 3: 15-17, 21, 22.

Birds in the Bible Quiz  John had ten scriptures each scripture pointing to a bird. The pictures of the birds on  power point.

Luke 3: 22  The Holy Spirit in the form of this bird  alighted on Jesus’ head. - - - - 

British Astronaut Tim Peake stepped outside the Space Station to do some repairs on the Station’s power box along with fellow Astronaut Tim Kopra. The view of the round earth from the cameras on board was awesome. Isaiah wrote, “It is he (God) who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.” Isaiah 40: 22.                                                                      

The writer of Genesis described in Genesis 1: 2. “The Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth,” ‘hovers’ like a bird.  

The 19^th Century Jewish philosopher Martin Burber wrote, “The Spirit of God hovering like a bird with outstretched wings manifested in the Spirit of the Messiah who will come.”  

This is what we believe happened when John the Baptist saw heaven open and coming from heaven the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, alighted upon Jesus and filled his whole being with the Spirit of God. 

Burber continues, “The Holy One, blessed be He! Will spread His wings and bestow His grace ‘upon Israel,’ owing to Israel’s repentance, symbolised by the water in accordance with Lamentations 2: 19 “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.” 

This Jewish expectation that Burber wrote about was apparent many centuries before when the Jews asked John if he was the Messiah. It's quite probable that they were looking for both a water and spirit baptism from John.  John the Baptist in his response indicated that they would only receive from him his baptism of repentance, “I baptise you with water, but he who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 

John separated water and spirit baptism. It is recorded in the book of Acts, Apollos and twelve others had only received John‘s baptism.   

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 18: 25. 19: 1- 5.  

Lamentations 2: 19 “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.”This is Jesus’ water baptism symbolising the pouring out of the heart in repentance, before the presence of the Lord, then entering by faith into his death and resurrection, being raised up into newness of life.                                                                                  

So the difference between John’s baptism of repentance and Jesus’ baptism of repentance after Pentecost was the Spirit of God coming into a person’s life. Acts 2: 38 “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.                                                                                                                 

Visual Aid- Orange juice and fizzy orange juice. Taste the difference, both have all the goodness of the orange but one has a fizz about it, something extra.

John’s prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit on the evening of the day of his resurrection. The Holy Spirit stemming from Jesus. At Pentecost the second part of the prophecy was fulfilled, the Holy Spirit manifested himself as tongues of fire sitting on top of the disciples' heads.                                                                 

A fire produces power – steam, electricity Jesus said, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”  The ‘Power of God’ is in our walk in faith, hope and love the greatest being love. God is love, his Spirit is love. Luke 24: 49. 1 John 4: 8, 12, 13.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love. I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love."     
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, 13. 

A fire gives off comforting heat, the comforting healing power of the Holy Spirit.  

In  Isaiah 43 reading God reminded Israel that they crossed over the Red Sea, the water had overwhelmed their enemies as God was with them. 

And for us Christians in our relationship with God whatever situation might arise where we need God’s help and strength he is there for us, it won't overwhelm us, especially in sickness. 

Literal fire - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, so he put them into the fiery furnace, to his amazement he saw a fourth man with them, the Lord. The three men were not touched by the flames. Daniel 3: 22-30.         

The Holy Spirit takes the fire out of a situation when a Christian faces opposition of some kind. The Lord will go before us taking the tension, the contentious words and defusing them, bringing in his peace. 

A fire gives light in the darkness, Jesus the light that shines in the darkness. God has shed his light on us to make Christ known to others.

God gave assurance to Israel of his love for them and that he would always be with them, at a distance, but always in his sight.                                               

We have a greater promise as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit come and make their home within us, a permanent presence.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for failings, where we have grieved your Holy Spirit. humbly we ask to be filled afresh today with your life giving comforting presence and the power of your Holy Spirit to witness our love, faith and hope in Jesus. Amen.