"John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'" -- Luke 3:16

In this scene, baptism had become the mark of belonging to this religious community.  John is a prophet who sees clearly the implications of Christ's coming into the picture... he shares that his baptism with water is nothing compared to what the one who is coming will do... baptize with the Holy Spirit.  As Christians, we are baptized with water to symbolize what has already been done through Christ.  It is still to this day the mark of belonging.  Some believe that you have to be baptized by water to be "saved".  This language is troublesome, because it takes away from the whole point of baptism.  By viewing it as a saving act, don't we take the power of Christ and put it into our own hands?  You see, we don't go to the water to get to the fire, we go to the water because we've already been touched by the fire.  We don't save ourselves; God saves us.

Readings:  Numbers 26:52-28:15; Luke 3:1-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 11:16-17