“And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” Mark 1:10 ESV
Reflection: how would you describe the Holy Spirit?
In 1982, I came to the United States for the first time. On this first trip, I was traveling with a good friend, and we had decided to spend a week in New York City before heading off for college in Wyoming. While I had already been to some larger cities in Europe, including Paris, it was hard to be prepared for New York. And one of the very unique experiences I especially remember was walking in Manhattan, looking up at the height and magnitude of the skyscrapers, all within a somehow small area. As this was a long time ago, we also had a chance to experience the World Trade Center, even go on the rooftop on one of the towers. It was amazing to look at the Manhattan skyline, to see all of Central Park, almost as if you were in an airplane. I tried to take a bunch of pictures, but the experience is hard to describe if you haven’t been there.
Have you ever experienced something that you would like to describe and share, but it is hard to even find the words?
Perhaps we all have, and we can appreciate the strangeness of the focus verses today. Let’s read it again. “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” Mark 1:10 ESV. I am saying “strangeness”, because there are multiple experiences described here that none of the authors of the 4 gospels have expounded much upon. We see “the heavens being torn open”, and “the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” Wow. Have you ever stopped to think about that, what in particular John the Baptist saw here, as he did what Jesus asked of him? It must have been so magnificent that there really are no words to describe what he saw.
If we start with “the heavens being torn open”, what was that? John (and possibly others) must have seen something so glorious, so magnificent that he wouldn’t even try to describe. We are perhaps reminded of the other John, of what the Lord showed him about the new, heavenly Jerusalem in Revelation 21, reading a couple of verses “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:10-11 ESV. But as we read John’s attempt to describe what he saw, we see his struggle as he is witnessing something our vocabulary falls short of describing. And, as Jesus is being baptized, the heavens open but for a moment.
And the Spirit of God “descending on him like a dove.” I’m sure you have seen many artists trying to capture this moment, most literally painting a bird, a dove, over Jesus. But why did John describe what he saw as a bird, and specifically why a dove? Bible commentator Gill wrote (a bit lengthy, but well worth your time):
“it was a very suitable one: the dove is a very proper emblem of the Spirit of God: “the voice of the turtle”, in Sol 2:12, is by the Targum interpreted, the voice of the holy Spirit: he may be likened to a dove, for its simplicity and sincerity; he guides into all truth as it is in Jesus, and teaches to speak the word in all plainness, openness, and sincerity, and preserves the saints in the simplicity of the Gospel; and for its mildness and meekness; one of the fruits of the Spirit of God is meekness, Galatians 5:23. And this it produces in converted persons, making them meek; humble, and gentle: and also for its harmlessness and innocence; and which appears, or at least should, in those who mind the things of the Spirit: hence that advice of Christ, “be harmless as doves”, Matthew 10:16. Likewise for its purity and cleanness; the Spirit of God is a Spirit of holiness, he is the author of sanctification; such as are washed, sanctified, and justified, are so in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Corinthians 6:11. The dove is a mournful and bemoaning creature; and the Spirit of God makes intercession for the saints, with groanings which cannot be uttered, Romans 8:26. To which may be added, that Noah’s dove bringing the olive leaf in its mouth, as a sign, of peace and reconciliation, fitly resembled the holy Spirit, one of whose fruits is peace, Galatians 5:22, and which he produces, by leading to the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, whereby peace is made, and reconciliation obtained: and his descending upon Christ here, points him out as the peacemaker, through whom was come peace on earth, good will towards men, and glory to God. Christ, on whom he lighted, is comparable to a dove; he is said to have doves’ eyes, Sol 5:12, and he has all the fruits and graces of the dove like Spirit of God, which rested on him; like the dove, he is humble, meek, and lowly; in which characters, he is to be followed and imitated by his people: and as that creature is a very loving one to its mate, so is Christ to his church; whom he has so loved, as to give himself for her: and as that is a lovely beautiful creature, so is Christ; he is altogether lovely; and especially his eyes of love, as they are set and fixed upon his church and people. With this descent of the Spirit as a dove on Christ”
What is so amazing to consider here, is the character of God. And here specifically the character of the Spirit, how we can associate that with the character of Jesus. It is easy to brush over this verse, but it is so important to take time to really contemplate who He is. The Spirit of the almighty God appearing like a dove.
How do you experience the Holy Spirit? Take a moment alone with the Lord, and describe to Him what you experience.
