Holy Spirit and Jesus

The Holy Spirit – And Jesus – John 14:1-31

---

The Bible teaches the eternal nature of the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Together they are the Godhead. This is more fully revealed in the New Testament but was there from the beginning.

Opening Question — Get Us Thinking:
How would you describe the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
After reading the scripture above, what do we learn about God?

"In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). The first reference to God in scripture is a reference to the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are eternal. Both deity (who God is) and divinity (His manifestation by characteristics and attributes) indicate that God is eternal. This means that the Holy Spirit and Jesus have always been. They have always had a relationship. I think it is important that we recognize this principle. Each existed in eternity before creation. Scripture indicates that each will be present from creation to the final judgment. Each will be in the final, eternal heaven.

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Word & Will.
Jesus and the Spirit are eternal — they have always been. Discuss this concept. The Godhead chose the Spirit to help people learn about Jesus. How would you have chosen to tell the world about Jesus? The Spirit prophesied the coming of Jesus to fulfill God's eternal purpose. His purpose was to save all who would obey (Ephesians 1:3-11). Jesus was prophesied to be born of a woman (Genesis 3:15). Mary was chosen to fulfill this promise (Matthew 1:18). God chose Seth to be the "godly line" which replaced Abel (Genesis 4:25). Jesus descended through this line. The Spirit indicated that Jesus would be of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; Galatians 3:16; 26-29). He would descend from Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (Genesis 49:10; Micah 5:2; Hebrews 7:14). Jesus was to come through the house of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-2, 10). This seed line continued through David (Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5). Matthew was inspired to say nine times that Jesus is the son of David (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 20:31).
Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s relationship fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. How specific are the prophecies concerning Jesus? The Spirit was specific in prophesying the birth of Jesus. He was to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-20; 22-23) with the Holy Spirit as the agent of conception (Matthew 1:18, 20). The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-31). The birth of Jesus took place at Bethlehem in Judea (Luke 2:1-7). The only Old Testament prophet to specify the birthplace of Jesus was Micah (Micah 5:2). It should be noted that the conception of Jesus was miraculous, but His birth was a natural birth. In this He submitted to the will of the Father (Hebrews 5:5-10). He became what He had not experienced — flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). He was as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16; Romans 8:;3-4).
Jesus became flesh through the Holy Spirit and the power of the Highest (Luke 1:35). Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). Jesus was born of the virgin (Luke 1:34).
Soon after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were warned not to return unto Herod but to take Jesus to Egypt to escape the decree of Herod. He had decreed that all children under the age of two were to be killed (Matthew 2:12-13). This agreed with the prophecy of Hosea concerning Jesus (Hosea 11:1). The killing of the young children was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:17-18).
The Spirit prophesied the coming Jesus. The prophets began with the announcement of birth by Isaiah and concluded with the statement of Jeremiah describing the stressful situation that resulted from Herod's decree to kill all of the young children.
The Spirit and Jesus carried out Ministry together. What does this unity say about who Jesus is? The earthly ministry of Jesus was characterized by a close relationship with the Spirit.
This relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit discussed earlier in the Old Testament is confirmed in the New Testament. “The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him” (Isaiah 11:1-4, cf. Romans 15:12). “I have put my Spirit upon Him” (Isaiah 42:1-4; cf. Matthew 12:14-21). “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” Isaiah 61:1-2; cf. Luke 14-19).
The Spirit appeared in the form of a dove at the baptism of Jesus (John 1:32-33; Matthew 3:16). The primary message of the Old Testament is that the Messiah is coming. The event that marked the beginning of the Messiah's ministry on earth was His baptism by John in the river Jordan. The Spirit was present with Jesus during the "Temptation Scene." Matthew says that Jesus was "led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil" (Matthew 4:1). Mark states that "the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness" (Mark 1:12). Luke declares that Jesus was "led about by the Spirit in the wilderness"  (Luke 4:1). Luke further states that "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). The teaching and preaching of Jesus during His earthly ministry is connected with the Spirit. The prophet Isaiah had predicted the ministry of Jesus was coming in the power of the Spirit (Isaiah 61:1-2). Luke records Isaiah's description of the earthly ministry of Jesus, spoken by Jesus during a synagogue service in His hometown of Nazareth:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19)
This capsule of the ministry of Jesus is spoken by Jesus Himself. It was a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. Jesus began this presentation of truth in His hometown of Nazareth by saying that "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me." This relationship between the Spirit and Jesus continued throughout His ministry on earth.
Miracles were a part of the "evidence package" which God gave at the beginning of the New Testament period. What are the primary purposes of miracles? The primary purpose of miracles was confirmation and the Holy Spirit was an independent witness to the Messiah. They were to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, that the apostles and prophets were His spokesmen, and that His revealed word was true and authoritative (John 20:30-31; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:20). Jesus always gave credit for miracle working to the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28; John 5:30-39). The works Jesus did by the Spirit bore witness of Him (John 3:2; 5:36; 7:26-31; 10:25, 37-38).
He, the Holy Spirit, anointed Jesus. He anointed Jesus to preach (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 7:16; 8:;28; 12:49; 14:10, 24).
This anointing occurred at Jesus’ baptism (John 1:29-34; Acts 10:38). The Holy Spirit descended and remained upon Him (John 1:33). This descent of the Spirit identified Jesus as “the Messiah” (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:9-12). From the time of His baptism forward it is indicated that Jesus operated with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22; 4:1, 14, 18-21, 36; 5:17)
During His earthly ministry, Jesus made two tremendous promises to His followers relative to the Spirit. He promised them that the Spirit would be given to indwell them (John 7:38-39). This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). No one before had ever received the Spirit as an indweller. Another tremendous promise which Jesus made to His followers was that they would be blessed by the coming "Helper" or "Comforter" (John 14:16-18). The promised helper is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:26). Jesus further promised, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth" (John 16:13). This promise applied directly to those individuals whom God selected to receive direct revelation from Him. We today share in both of these promises. The Spirit is given to indwell each person when the decision is made to put on Jesus through baptism (John 3:3-5). We also share in the promise that truth has been revealed and is knowable. That truth is revealed by the Holy Spirit in God's written word. It is to be our guide and final criteria for judgment.
Was the Holy Spirit with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection? Discuss the relationship of the Spirit with Jesus during His death and during His resurrection. The Spirit was with Jesus through the cross scene. The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus laid down His life and took it up again by the authority of the Father (John 10:17-19)
The Spirit continued to be present with Jesus when His earthly ministry was about to come to a close. "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus was raised by the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:1-5) He not only continued with Jesus through the physical death scene, but He was also the One given credit for raising Jesus from the dead: "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18; Romans 1:4; 8:11). The Spirit was present with Jesus at death. It was the Spirit who raised Him from the dead and broke the "law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). No passage says Jesus raised Himself from the dead, by His own will and power alone. This makes it possible for obedient individuals today not only to be free from the guilt and penalty of sin, but also to have the privilege of wearing the "righteousness of Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:26-29).
Jesus Promised to Send the Spirit and that He would not leave His own as orphans (John 14:18). His promise was and is that the Spirit would come and abide "with" and "in" His people (John 14:17). This is a part of the promise that He gave relative to His glorification. The Spirit is bearing witness of Jesus (John 15:26). He is bringing honor and glory to Jesus and will continue to do so until Jesus comes again (John 16:14).
Things the Holy Spirit did not do for Jesus — The Holy Spirit did not give Jesus divinity (John 1:1-3). The Holy Spirit did not prevent Jesus from sinning (Matthew 4; Luke 4: Hebrews 2:10-18). The Holy Spirit did not take away the will of Jesus (1 Corinthians 14:26-32).
In summary, Scripture reveals that the Spirit and Jesus (the "Logos," the living Word) have had, and continue to have, a united relationship. The two personalities are a part of "Elohim" (Genesis 1:1). The relationship will continue as long as time exists. They continue the relationship eternally in heaven today. The tremendous thought is that obedient followers will share with them a personal relationship forever in that place “where there is no night” (Revelation 21:25).

Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.
· Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in complete unity. What does this mean to you?
· I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this study? How will you apply it to your life this week?
· How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?
· You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?

---

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.