Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, “I’m the one who needs to be baptized, not you!” But Jesus insisted. “Do it. God’s work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism.” So John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.” John 3:13-14 MSG
I find it surprising that God Almighty, in his power and might, does not look down upon men and assert his authority to accomplish righteousness. In the way he engages us he appears more like a brother than a monarch. Jesus wants John to baptize him. John thinks this is a bad idea and Jesus gives him the space to say so! That God would position himself eye to eye with us in such a way that we could oppose him takes me by surprise.
God suffered with Israel throughout the centuries, endeavoring to establish righteousness in the earth through them, so I am also surprised by God’s continuing patience. He doesn’t twist John’s arm. He just explains that you need to do this my way so that you can do your part in ultimately putting all things right.
John the Baptist and his fellow Jews knew that God had once destroyed the earth with water due to unrighteousness. They knew that he had instructed their forefathers to utterly destroy unrighteous people groups. They knew he caused the earth to open up and swallow rebellious factions of their own people. If God was going to send His Spirit as his agent to earth in the form of an animal, what species do you think these Jews would anticipate, and what would they anticipate hearing from that creature’s voice? Given their backdrop, I would guess these weary religious people might anticipate the animal to be a Lion prepared to voice his strong displeasure with a loud and terrifying roar. At Christ’s baptism we are surprised as the Spirit comes as a dove, a gentle messenger of peace. This was consistent with the angelic visitation in Luke 2:
Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people…This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel…saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. Luke 2″10-14 NAS
While it seemed to be setting the stage for a God with centuries of pent up wrath, the Old Testament does nothing of the sort. Instead it delivers a God who comes to us as a servant, inviting us into his kingdom. This surprise was so great the chosen of God totally missed it.
Since I was once one of them, I believe there are many of us Christians who also see God as worn slick with our unrighteousness. We anticipate (some eagerly I think) God’s judgment. I wonder (because of my own experience) how much of this orientation toward judgment comes from hearts that are strangers (as mine was) to any affectionate in God’s voice.
This blog is frequently the story of how I have come to hear God’s voice differently. As a zealous disciple who, even on his best day, secretly felt that he was a disappointment to God, I was plagued with an image of myself that simply was incompatible with the one God had of me. After a challenging season where I was forced to take a deeper look into my heart, I experienced a fairly radical transformation at the heart level. One of the great upsides has been a surprising sense of God’s pleasure—his pleasure in me—and a renewed capacity to hear his approving voice.
It may seem very arrogant for some to hear me say this, but I am very sure that God feels about me the same way he does about Jesus. If he were introducing me, I feel certain I know what he would say, “This is my son Rob, chosen and marked by my love, a true delight to me.”
I can testify that living life wrapped up in his pleasure has truly been good news and a great joy to my soul. I now see that thing which I had called the fear of God, which drove me to work out my salvation in the wrong kind of fear and trembling, only produced dead religious works which were not the kind of sacrifice he was looking for.
From scripture and experience I have come to expect the Holy Spirit in ways that I would not expect. I am grateful that I am not rejected when, like John, I may initially protest because the tone or content of his voice is contrary to my understanding and expectations. He simply perseveres, never leaving nor forsaking me. To my surprise, he is greater than my ignorance and even my obstinance.
Father, continue to be your surprising self among your people. Take us off guard with your love and patience. Shock us with your initiatives. Succeed wildly in your end runs around our puny ideas. Overtake our earthly perspectives with your eternal wisdom and vindicate your truth now and forevermore. Allow the skies to open up above us and permit us to see you, not as we have perceived you, but as you actually are. Put things right by way of your love. Amen.