John 1:32-35
“John clinched his witness with this: ‘I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.’”
“Then John testified, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’”
Imagine the people around John that day, doing all the things done in a crowd: greeting, eating, coming and going, listening and talking. How many caught the significance of the moment, saw their Messiah in the human Jesus? God works in profound ways right under our noses.
Given the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus’ and John’s mothers, it seems likely they knew of each other. Or perhaps their mothers wisely kept silent allowing the Holy Spirit primacy in directing their lives. If so, did John and Jesus know each other by sight or was their relationship discovered after placing of the Spirit's seal in the form of a dove? Scripture is silent about these details. They would only cloud the essential truths. But they were a part of the ordinary life the Spirit worked in. He does the same today, right under our noses.
Lord, I fear I’m missing the work you do right under my nose. Open my eyes to the ways you call me to work alongside. Give me wisdom in what life details I pass down to our children. Help me celebrate ordinary life, because you are at work there.