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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. (ESV)

Have you ever stood in the ocean and felt the force of the waves lifting you involuntarily? You have little choice but to let the sea do what it will. Sometimes it is fun to jump as the waves come and let them carry you a short distance; however, it is hard to not also become acutely aware of how little control you have in the relentless waves.

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We see in today’s verses, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, and the Spirit of God descends on Jesus like a dove. The voice of God speaks of his love for Jesus; but we see the very next verse says, “the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.” There are a few things I found interesting in reading these verses back-to-back. First, we see the word “immediately” twice. We also see a comparison of the Holy Spirit to a dove and, the word “drove” which implies a forcefulness of the Spirit.  

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What kinds of feelings are evoked when you hear the word “immediately”? For me, it is one of those words that looks more natural in all caps and with an exclamation point. IMMEDIATELY! If someone tells me to do something immediately, I automatically feel a compelling push to complete a task right away, even quickly, because their urgency is evident. We see an “immediate” response of the Heavenly Father to Jesus’ baptism, and the Spirit descending on Jesus. There was no delay; no mistaking about whom the message was intended for. The response was immediate and intentional.  

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Then, like one of those crazy vortex dream sequences from a movie, we see that “immediately” the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness. No pause. No time passing. Boom, Jesus is in the wilderness; of all things, to be tempted by Satan. But the timing of this also feels purposeful. How often do we come crashing down from a spiritual high when Satan discourages us? In God’s perfect plan, Jesus experienced all the temptation we experience so he would intimately know our struggles. The Holy Spirit is immediate and intentional.  

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God also gave us a visual of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove. I think most of us would agree that doves are a symbol of peace and gentleness. So, we see the Spirit as a gentle visual representation of the words God was speaking, building Jesus up with love and encouragement. The Holy Spirit is gentle and uplifting.  

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Another word that stood out to me is “drove.”  This is another word that implies unseen power propelling events forward. It seems to imply that any reluctance Jesus may have felt would not have changed the outcome of the will of God. He was forcibly pushed out. So, in just a few short verses, we have this paradoxical picture of the Holy Spirit that is gentle like a dove, yet a forceful “driving” Jesus into the wilderness. How can this be?

I remember as a child asking my dad questions with an either-or choice for an answer. He would respond “Yes,” which, of course, meant both. At the time, however, his answer confused me. In my mind, the question was either this OR this. They should not both be the answer. As I have grown in my walk with God, I have recognized several of these apparent paradoxes in his character. He is merciful yet just, meek yet mighty, and slow to anger yet holding back wrath, gentle like a dove, yet a driving force. Yes. Both.  

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There is one key piece of information that helps tie these contradictory thoughts together. Jesus was a willing participant. Like a person hopping in the waves and allowing the waves to carry them, Jesus willingly allowed himself to be driven as his will aligned with that of God the Father. Are you a willing heart to allow the Holy Spirit to move in full force? Is your response immediate? The Holy Spirit can move in huge ways when working through a willing heart.  

God, even though we cannot quite comprehend all that you are, we are thankful for your might, your gentleness, and your intentionality in how you work. We love your gentle encouragement and stand in awe of the moments your Spirit has complete control. Thank you that Jesus experienced all that we experience. We ask you to help us be like him, a willing conduit for your plan for our lives. We want you to be “well pleased” with us, as well. Help us to be willing to be moved by your Spirit. Amen.