A group of us are studying Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. Referring to the Holy Spirit descending as a dove onto Jesus at his baptism, she writes, “The Holy Spirit, being God and all, could have taken any form he pleased. Something with wings certainly helps when one is planning on descending from heaven, but he could have chosen to come as an eagle or an albatross or even a sparrow. But he chose a dove, once again as after the Genesis flood, symbolic of a new day on this old earth of ours.”
Mic drop.
I’d read those Bible stories countless times over the years and never noticed the connection between the dove Noah sent out from the ark and the dove which descended upon Jesus at his baptism — how both announced “a new day on this old earth of ours.”
I’ve been looking and listening for doves all week as I now look at doves with new eyes! One just happened to linger long on the deck this morning after its friends had flown off, and I don't believe in coincidences.
He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.
— Genesis 8:10-12
I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.
— John 1:32-34
