“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” Matthew 3:16

“To be submerged under water is a threatening thing for those of us who are afraid of it … or can’t swim. But at his baptism, Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection by going under and rising up again. Then the Spirit of God descends. If we were to choose a bird that powerful, it might be a swift predator-a hawk or a condor. But instead, God’s Spirit comes down “like a dove.” It’s not hard to imagine that Spirit saying something to the effect of, “Relax, I’m a bird of pray.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Bird Meets World

Back in the 1990’s ABC television came out with a show called “Boy Meets World” starring Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel. It was a coming-of-age sitcom about two young kids, Cory and Topanga. Then in 2014 the Disney Channel did a remake of the show calling it “Girl Meets World, again starring Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, but also staring Rowand Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter. This was a coming-of-age story for Cory and Topanga’s daughter, Riley and her “troubled” friend Maya. Both were feel-good stories of the struggles of life and living.

When the Dove descended upon Jesus following his baptism, it was a “Bird Meets World” moment. It was the beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and in the life of the Christian Church. Nothing would ever be the same. Jesus would be driven into the wilderness to be tested and tempted by the Devil, just like Cory and Topanga, Riley and Maya were tested and tempted by life. Some might say that you cannot compare real life to a television show – especially the life of Jesus. I would disagree. We often see how life imitates art, and how art imitates life. And the stories of people in the Bible often read like a novella – how they are preyed upon by sin and temptation. What gives us comfort is the giving of the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove – the image of gentleness.

I agree with Laurie Hanson: “Then the Spirit of God descends. If we were to choose a bird that powerful, it might be a swift predator-a hawk or a condor. But instead, God’s Spirit comes down “like a dove.” It’s not hard to imagine that Spirit saying something to the effect of, “Relax, I’m a bird of pray.”

Let us pray,

God of prayer, sometimes I see myself as a bird-very small, very frail and afraid. I often feel preyed upon by life and the devil. Yet you love me and call me your own. Let your love shine through me. Amen.

Pastor Dave

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn it, but in order to save the world through him” John 3:16-17

“Have we ever sinned? Of course. Will we sin again, despite our best intentions? No doubt about it. If sin were “fixed” by jumping through hoops, obeying all the rules, or going on a self-help binge and finding the ultimate diet and exercise program, we would always fall short. But wait! Sin and fear don’t have the last word here. God loves the world. God loves us. God loves you. We fall short, but God’s Son came into the world. And because Jesus died and rose again, we become part of an unending circle of love.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Sinners Become Winners

No one is without sin. Period. No matter what you think of your pastor or your parents or your best friend, no one is without sin. We all sin and fall short of the glory of G-d. We look at pictures on Facebook and images from TikTok and we think “those people have the life.” What we do not realize is the mess that so many of those people are facing in their lives. We are so quick to put up good fronts – while in the back we are barely making sense of life, of finances, and of faith.

John 3:16-17 may be just a little overused, quoted way too much, but Martin Luther called it the Gospel “in miniature.” Those verses encapsulate the entire message of G-d’s love for G-d’s people. It is the Gospel in its simplest form. It reminds us that everyone sins, but everyone is also captured within the net of G-d’s love, mercy and grace found in the cross of G-d’s only Son, Jesus Christ. That is why we need to hear that message over and over again.

Let us pray,

God of love, mercy and all-encompassing love and acceptance, I am in awe of what you have done for me. Thank you for bringing me into your circle of love. Amen.

Pastor Dave