Advent devotions 2008

Thu, 8 Jan 2009

JAN. 9 - THE MARK OF THE SPIRIT
By Tamara Shantz, assistant campus pastor

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

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DEVOTIONAL:
The Holy Spirit, whether in the form of a wind from God, the voice of God, a dove or spoken tongues, plays a prominent role in every one of our Scripture verses for this week. God's Spirit is present at the beginning of Creation, demonstrates the power and majesty of JHWH, baptizes early believers and gives them a new identity in Jesus Christ. And in today's passage, the Spirit marks Jesus as the beloved Son of God.

Like the wondrous displays of the Spirit in these passages, the baptism of Jesus is centered on a remarkable act of God: "he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove" (v.10). This is a private moment for Jesus. No one else gathered at that river witnessed the rending of the heavens. As the readers of this account, we are invited to hear the echo of Isaiah 64 and the people's cry for God to rip open the heavens and descend to earth so that God's face might be hidden from them no longer. Jesus is the answer to that cry and we are called to recognize Jesus as the face of God shining out to the world with a brightness never seen before.

Jesus' identity is established in this moment of baptism, just as we find our true identity in the voice of God saying to us, "you are my beloved." Jesus’ identity as 'God with us' was revealed to the world, not through a divine declaration, but through the power of his life, death and resurrection. We too are called to let God's light shine through the witness of our unfolding lives.

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FROM THE EDITORS:
Thank you to every one of you for joining us this Advent, Christmas and Epiphany season as we waited once more for the coming of the Christ child. It is our prayer that you will continue to see God's face shining brightly in the person of Jesus Christ, and that your life will reflect that light to all of Creation.

Join us again for the season of Lent (unless you unsubscribe, they will automatically be sent to you) when they start again on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Blessings and peace to you in 2009!

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SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:4- 11 (NRSV)
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, 'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'


Posted at 10:26 #



Disclaimer:
The views and beliefs expressed in the devotional piece prepared by each individual reflect their own spiritual growth journey and thoughts, and while created in a campus environment that encourages thoughtful questions and reflection on biblical Scripture and contemporary Christian themes, do not necessarily represent the official institutional positions of Goshen College or Mennonite Church USA.