John 1:32, 33
This topic will be divided into two messages. In the first one we will study what the special connection of the Holy Spirit was with the Son of God throughout Christ’s ministry here on earth; then, in the next sermon we will study the role of the Holy Spirit as He works in perfect harmony and identity with Christ in connection with our salvation.
The overall objective of this message is to
show what the role of the Holy Spirit is—Christ’s
personal representative. In illustrating this through
Scripture, we shall notice the perfect interaction between
Christ and the Helper that He promised. This
interaction was and is so perfect that Jesus and the
Holy Spirit are often referred to interchangeably or
synonymously; however, this is not to suggest that
they are the same person, but rather to show their
perfect harmony. We will specifically study Jesus’
earthly dependency on this divine member of the
Godhead. And finally, we will see that our dependency
on the Holy Spirit is synonymous with dependency
on Jesus Himself. It is Christ’s way of making
Himself present in us.
I. JESUS’ EARTHLY SOJOURN WAS DEPENDENT
ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
As we begin this topic, the following important
point will be kept in mind. During His earthly mission,
Jesus chose to be completely dependent on
the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit;
yet this dependency did not in any way exclude or
shut out the Father. Instead, the Holy Spirit was the
means or the agency by which the Father worked
for and through His Son. Let’s keep this relationship
in mind.
II. JESUS WAS DEPENDENT AT HIS BIRTH
One of the most difficult areas in comprehending
the virgin birth of Jesus was the role that the
Holy Spirit played. Matthew 1:18, 20 clearly states
that the Holy Spirit played a key role. We cannot,
of course, understand these details, but when remembering
the Holy Spirit’s active role in the creation
of the world, that He “moved on the face of
the waters,” then it would follow that the Holy Spirit
must have also been the active agent in the creation
of the human form of Jesus. And so, even at birth,
Jesus was dependent on the divine power of the
Holy Spirit.
III. JESUS WAS DEPENDENT AT HIS BAPTISM
According to Scripture, Jesus and the Holy
Spirit were shown as being in very close relationship at His baptism. And thus, it was at this central
event that the Holy Spirit descended in full measure
upon Jesus. Notice John 1:32, 33. Here the Holy
Spirit was sent by the Father to guide the Saviour in
His earthly sojourn—to enable Jesus in His humanity
by making available to Him the very same divine
power that is now also available to each one of us!
IV. JESUS WAS DEPENDENT IN THE WILDERNESS
Turn and read both Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1.
Notice here the specific leading of the Holy Spirit
in the wilderness temptation experience. It is clear
from these passages that the Holy Spirit was directing
the activities of the Saviour day by day. Why
need this be? Because Jesus knew that human nature
was not capable of depending solely on its own
wisdom and power. And if one so holy, so perfect,
so pure, so wise as Jesus, was so submissive to
this divine leading, should not we who are so less
than all these attributes, recognize that we must
cherish the same submission to the divine leading
of God the Holy Spirit?
V. JESUS WAS DEPENDENT TO DO GOOD
The Scriptures record that Jesus “went about
doing good.” In other words, in His life there was
daily evidence that divinity was shining through
Him. He healed the sick, the lame, the blind; He
brought comfort to the sorrowing; spoke truth to
the searching; he was always kind, courteous, and
tenderhearted; even the scathing rebuke that He
sometimes found it necessary to give, He gave with
tears in His voice. Truly, Jesus went about doing
good. Have you ever wished that every thought you
thought, every word you spoke, every action, every
expression on your face were like Jesus? Have you
ever felt a longing desire that you could respond in
all situations just like Jesus would? The key is the
power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
We can, we can, fellow traveler. That’s exactly
why Jesus came—to make it possible. And He not
only came to show that it is possible, but He also
wants us to become acquainted with the “how,” or
in other words, the “Who.” Notice Acts 10:38 where
it says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing
good and healing all who were oppressed of the
devil, for God was with Him.”
Can you see then that it was specifically because
of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
that Jesus was enabled as a human being to do
these things? Our “doing good,” our radiating the love of Jesus in every facet of our lives, is not the
result of more determined effort on our part to “try
harder” to do good; rather it is the result of being
consciously dependent on our Helper, the Holy Spirit,
who works in us to “will and to do of His good
pleasure.”
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative
commissioned to bring to us the presence
and experience of Jesus. In John 16:14, 15 Jesus
spoke clearly what the role of the Holy Spirit was
to be. This assurance of the Helper was given by
Jesus to His disciples for all time in order to assure
us that He would not leave us as helpless orphans
but, rather, through the indwelling of His Spirit, Jesus
was promised to dwell in each one of us. And in
reality this would make Him closer to each one than
if He had remained bodily here on earth. Notice the
following three quotations which illustrate how completely
the Holy Spirit brings Jesus’ presence to us:
“Christ is represented by His Holy Spirit today
in every part of His great moral vineyard. He will
give the inspiration of His Holy Spirit to all those who
are of a contrite spirit” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.
215).
“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in
the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation
of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with
the attributes of Christ” (The Desire of Ages, p. 805).
“To Jesus, who emptied Himself for the salvation
of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without
measure. So it will be given to every follower of
Christ, when the whole heart is surrendered for His
indwelling” (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,
p. 21).
Do you want this kind of relationship? Do you
desire to have an experience with the Saviour that,
through His Spirit, He will actually imbue or live
out within you the very attributes of Christ? You
can experience this day by day as you continue to
claim the promise found in Luke 11:13. Turn there
now and read this verse as we bring this topic to
a close. Remember, the Holy Spirit is there for the
asking!
David Wolkwitz is a retired ordained minister who
served as pastor, chaplain, evangelist, administrator,
and departmental director. As a speaker,
he challenged his audiences to pray daily at
6:15 a.m. for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This
sermon is used by permission from the General
Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries
Department.
