376

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."


Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."


John 1:29-34


Perhaps you are like me and you have just taken it for granted that the Spirit comes down from heaven as a dove.  Consider the other options...Zeus came down with lightning bolts. Others have arrived in fire. God, on the other hand, chooses to arrive as a dove. 


Let that be a comfort to you today. God meets us with gentleness. It does not diminish his power to meet us this way. But it shows us his character. God is a gentleman. God commands peace. He is purity and light and freedom and righteousness. And when he comes to us, these qualities remain. They are gifts. Part of his grace. Receive them today in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen