THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF JESUS. Part One.

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF JESUS. Part One.

 

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:5-8.

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

 

          In Philippians 2:5-8 it says of the Lord that He humbled Himself and laid aside His Godly attributes to become a man. Some of the attributes of God are:

Eternal, John 8:58.                               Unchangeable, Hebrews 13:8.

Omnipotent, Luke 8:34.                      Omnipresent, Matthew 18:20.

Omniscient, Luke 5:22.                       Holy, Mark 1:24.

Just, Acts 17:13.                                   Loving, John 15:13.

Merciful, Titus 3:5.                             Faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13.

         

Which of the attributes, if not all His Godhead did the Lord lay aside? If Jesus laid aside His attributes He must have been limited in His power, so the works that He did, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to look at the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ in at least ten areas of His life and ministry.

 

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit: -

1. Born:                                               Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35.

2. Anointed:                                         Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22.

3. Filled with the fulness of God:         Luke 4:1.

4. Led:                                                  Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1.

5. Spoke and taught:                            Luke 4:18.

6. Casted out demons:                          Matt. 12:28; Mark 1:26; Luke 8:2.

7. Healed the sick:                                Matt. 8:16; Mark 1:31; Luke 7:21.

8. Offered on Calvary:                         Hebrews 9:14.

9. Resurrected:                                      Romans 8:11.

10. Governs the Church:                      Revelation 2:7.

 

          It was through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit that Mary conceived the Saviour at His Birth. The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ at His Baptist and was His support in the wilderness in His conflict with the Devil and was an operative power throughout Jesus ministry.

          Luke the writer of Acts and his Gospel noted this special working of the Holy Spirit in and through the life of Christ Jesus. In the birth of Jesus, Luke records an outburst of new prophetic activity proclaiming the beginning of the end of the old age and the beginning of a spiritual kingdom and Messianic hope, seen in Luke 1:41, 67; 2:25-27, 36-38.

          The four Gospel writers of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of course were in no doubt that Jesus' whole ministry had been in the power of the Holy Spirit from the beginning Matthew 12:18; Luke 4:14; John 3:34.

           All four writers agree that at the Baptism of Jesus, Jesus experienced a special empowering for His ministry.

          An anointing which was also evidently bound up with His assurance of Sonship, Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10f; Luke 3:22; John 1:33f for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit where at Jesus Baptism because salvation is of the Trinity.

          From Luke 4:18-21 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” when Jesus stood up to read from Isaiah 61:1-2. Luke records how Jesus read this passage and publicly claimed to fulfil this prediction of Himself. Since Luke records this at the commencement of the ministry of Christ it provides a key to the understanding of the preaching and healing work of Jesus.

          So here Jesus begins to minister and heal under a power from upon high, under the power of the Holy Spirit.

          End of part one, part two will follow.