January 11, 2018 Thursday

“And so John came, baptising in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit."” (Mark 1:4-8 NIV)

            It is so tempting to see Bible stories as old stories that are of dubious reality and meaning.  Many recent Biblical “scholars” teach that Bible stories are just moral teachings passed on.  This is accepted because in truth many who call themselves Christians have not experienced more of the Bible than the Bible stories they heard as children.

            But this story I believed not only happened but is a revelation of how God continues to work in our lives as well as His Creation 

God brings us from the desert of our existence

We understand that baptism is more than water

Baptism is repentance and forgiveness

Confession must precede baptism

Baptism changes the way we live

Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to us

            What seems to us a sort of weird but nice(?) story about the precursor of Jesus is also fleshed out and is real in our lives and God’s Church today.

            Celebrate that the 2,000 and more years old stories are not just reality long ago but are a sign of how God continues to work in our world today bring us from death and mere existence to Life in Jesus.

            Have had a good day and have been able to do some things and have walked in the warmer weather and sat outside.  I praise God for His blessing of good days and also for the blessing of Bad days.  For in the bad days I experience His presence even more.