Fired Up

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

(for a plethora of choice readings)

Beginning in Galilee

after the baptism that John preached

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power

he went about doing good and healing

(acts 10:38)

After all had been baptized

and Jesus also had been baptized

and was praying

heaven was opened

and the Holy Spirit descended upon him

in bodily form like a dove

(luke 3:21-22)

It seems to me that Luke, in Acts and in the Gospel, is careful to emphasize the action of God and the Holy Spirit…and the flip-side is a minimizing of John.  John’s baptism is of a different sort.  Jesus never baptizes.  The Christian, after all is baptized into life, death, and service…into Christ...and according to Luke with FIRE!

The focus is on Jesus.  John is quickly removed from the scene.  In fact, according to Luke alone, I am not quite sure how Jesus was baptized or who baptized him.  Adding the missing verses it appears that John is in prison while the crowd is still being baptized!

Luke accomplishes the re-focusing.  Jesus is center stage.  And in Lukan style, intimate communion with God in prayer is the meeting place.  The mission begins.  Doing good and healing.  

I don't know why, but that old high school cheer comes to mind:

Let's get FIRED up!

Goofy...I know.

But, I wonder to myself:  How fiery is my baptism?