When the Spirit Moves (Mark 1:9-15)

As Professor O. C. Edwards Jr. proposes, "The point that Mark wishes to make here, is, of course, the theophany that occurs when Jesus is coming up out of the water. The significance of the event is indicated by the way the heavens do not just 'open,' as earlier translations had it, but are 'torn open' (NIV) or "torn apart' (NRSV).

Dr. Edwards continues: "Another difference between Mark and the other Synoptics is that for Mark, the descent of Spirit is *like* that of a dove, while for the others, it comes *as* a dove. For them, it lands on Jesus, but for Mark the Spirit descends *into* Jesus. (Gk. *eis*)"

Then Dr. Edwards raises and leaves open this spiritually provocative question: Is he then driven into the wilderness to reflect on the implications of his calling?" (page 36)

The open-endedness of this question invites us to ask ourselves if there have been times when the heavens have been "torn apart" above, or perhaps, within us, so that we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in our minds and hearts in a profoundly illuminating and vitally significant way? And if we have had such moments, may we have later found ourselves in a wilderness, at times perplexed, famished, and praying for clarity to begin to understand where this particular visitation of the Spirit could lead?

And now this morning I am transported to the beloved congregations where we have sung together, with deep trust and commitment, "Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray. Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray."

(from the African-American Spiritual, arranged by Joseph T. Jones, adapted by Melva W. Costen, 1989, from The Presbyterian Hymnal, #315, 1990)

Notes

The Rev. Otis "O. C." Edwards Jr. was Professor Emeritus of Preaching and former President and Dean of Seabury-Western Seminary, now a part of Bexley-Seabury Seminary, located at Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. His fuller reflections on Mark 1:9-15 can be found in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary, Year B, Volume 2, pages 35-36, 2020.