Episode 18: Jesus and the Holy Spirit | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Jesus’ Life: A Partnership from the Beginning
When we think about the life of Jesus, it's easy to focus on His divinity—His power to heal, His authority over nature, and His ability to forgive sins. But it’s important to remember that Jesus was also fully human, and throughout His life, He was deeply connected to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was with Him from the very beginning, empowering Him at every turn.
The Holy Spirit at Jesus’ Conception and Baptism
The role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life begins even before His birth. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read about the miraculous conception of Jesus: "The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us" (Matthew 1:23). When Mary questioned how this could happen, the angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come on you" (Luke 1:35). From the moment of His conception, the Holy Spirit was active, setting the stage for the life and ministry of Jesus.
Fast forward to Jesus’ baptism, and the Holy Spirit’s presence is once again emphasized. As Jesus comes up out of the water, "the Spirit of God descended like a dove and alighted on Him" (Matthew 3:16). This moment marks the beginning of His public ministry, but it also highlights the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. He didn’t embark on His mission alone; He was continually empowered by the Spirit.
Empowered by the Spirit: Jesus' Ministry and Temptation
After His baptism, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, where He faces intense temptation from the devil. In Luke 4:1-2, we see that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.” During this time, Jesus did not rely on His divine nature to resist temptation. Instead, He relied on the Holy Spirit's strength and guidance. This is a crucial point—Jesus, though fully God, was also fully human, experiencing the same kinds of struggles that we face.
It’s easy to think of temptation as something brief, but for Jesus, the temptation lasted forty days. He didn't give in, and He returned to Galilee "in the power of the Spirit" (Luke 4:14). This demonstrates the profound partnership between Jesus and the Holy Spirit throughout His ministry. Even in His most difficult moments, He wasn't alone—He was empowered by the Spirit.
Jesus, Fully Human and Fully Dependent on the Spirit
Jesus' relationship with the Holy Spirit also emphasizes His humanity. Philippians 2:7-8 reminds us that Jesus "made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." He didn't simply appear human; He fully embraced the human experience, complete with suffering, temptation, and the need for divine empowerment. The Holy Spirit was His constant companion, empowering Him to live out His mission and fulfill the will of the Father.
This dependence on the Spirit continued as Jesus went about His ministry. In the synagogue, He read from the scroll of Isaiah, proclaiming, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18). The Spirit was not only present in Jesus' life but actively working through Him to bring healing, freedom, and hope to the world.
Our Connection to the Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s role in the life of Jesus shows us how vital the Spirit is for our own lives as well. Just as Jesus relied on the Spirit to navigate His humanity and fulfill His mission, we too are called to depend on the Spirit for strength, guidance, and empowerment. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus in His humanity is available to us today.
In moments of temptation or struggle, we can look to Jesus' example, knowing that He understands our weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” The Spirit’s presence with Jesus allows Him to empathize with our struggles, offering not only comfort but also the power to overcome.
The Holy Spirit's work in Jesus' life invites us to draw closer to the Spirit in our own. Just as the Spirit led and empowered Jesus, so too can the Spirit lead and empower us in our daily lives. Let's remember that Jesus, though divine, experienced the full range of human life, and it was through His relationship with the Holy Spirit that He was able to live without sin and fulfill the Father's will. The Spirit is as vital to us as it was to Jesus—guiding, empowering, and transforming us into His likeness.
