The Path To Pentecost is surely to experience all of the ministry of Jesus Christ. We have established that Jesus' ministry to us involves the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit (see John 1:29ff). There is not sense in which a follower of Jesus just experiences one of these truths.
But what is this matter of baptized with the Holy Spirit as part of what Jesus does? What would the original reader have thought when hearing that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit?
The Jewish practice of washings is something that every observant Jew did. However, baptism was reserved for Gentile proselytes (converting to Judaism) and not practiced by observant Jews. Baptism was seen as a cleansing and an initiation rite for Gentile proselytes into the life and practice of Judaism.
So, the imagery John is using appears to be that Jesus will introduce and initiate a new way of life, much like a Gentile proselyte would know upon their conversion. The imagery is that of cleansing and being initiated or brought into a new life and a new life for sure.
It may even be said that Jesus' baptizing us with The Holy Spirit is cleansing and initiating into a new means of life. We are now given new power that is not our own to live a life that is not our own. The Spirit is surely a new power for the life of the follower of Jesus. The issue is are we humble enough to think we need to receive this new life!!
REFLECT: What difference or differences in the ministry of Jesus are you learning about as we are on this Path to Pentecost? What role does humility play in receiving new life from Jesus?