A preposition
by Pastor Reid Matthias
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He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16b).
In terms of grammar, we don’t take much notice of prepositions. Often, we fixate on nouns and verbs and the occasional adjective or adverb, but prepositions seem like poor, neglected cousins.
Here is an example of how prepositions can make such a huge difference.
Dave threw the ball to Tina.
Dave threw the ball at Tina.
Both sentences are directional. The ball is going towards Tina with intention. But in the first, it seems like they are playing catch. In the second, they are playing dodgeball.
Prepositions make a big impact.
Notice in our Scripture verse the intention of the preposition.
Now, why does the preposition ‘with’ make such a difference? In many translations, it reads, ‘baptise you in the Holy Spirit and fire’. Which sounds better to you? As we move towards Christmas, towards the time of year when our spiritual hopes are piqued, would you prefer to be splashed or immersed?
To be baptised with the Spirit and fire comes across as something that happens to the outside – a nice blanket of comfy Spirit and cozy warmth that the gentle Holy Spirit brings to us. The splashing baptism with the Spirit and fire feels somewhat ‘safe’ or that somehow this baptism is a vaccination against fear.
Yet, to be baptised in the Spirit and in fire, there is no escape. This is an immersion into the power of a holy and utterly separate, powerful God who brings you into communion with him and the Spirit, always pointing to the Messiah. The Spirit surges through the body of Christ, bringing life and power through the Incarnated Promise – Jesus.
When John speaks to the groups, he wants them to be in people, not merely with people. He wants them to experience the power and the all-consuming burning hope of the Father, as the Messiah comes so that when the Spirit and fire have purified us, all that is left is a glorious joy in Jesus.
I hope you can think about your prepositions this Advent.
Holy Spirit, as the lights of Christmas around us remind us of Jesus, let the power of the Holy Spirit illuminate a future in him. Amen.
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