Category: Theology 101
The Work of the Holy Spirit (Cont'd)
The Spirit in the Life of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth was not conceived through the normal human reproductive processes which require a contribution from a man and a woman. His mother, Mary, had never known a man in this sense and, therefore, it was impossible for a baby to form in her womb. That is, it was impossible without divine intervention. However, God did intervene and, consequently, Mary did find a baby forming in her womb. This baby was created there by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had no earthly, human father, but was begotten through the efforts of His heavenly Father's divine Spirit.
The significance of this is that Jesus would be called the Son of God because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). All other sons of God (i.e. believers) become so through adoption. We did not descend from the divine bloodline so to speak, but were legally appointed to be family members. Jesus, on the other hand, is pure divine stock, the direct offspring of God by the Holy Spirit.
When the time came for Jesus to reveal Himself to the world, He appeared to John for baptism and there enjoyed the Spirit's manifest presence (Luke 3:21). Also, this Second Adam had to undergo the temptation of the Devil in a way similar to the first Adam. It was God's Spirit who led Him out into the barren, lonely desert for this diabolical attack, filled Him with strength that He might deflect the fiery arrows of Satan, and led Him back to Galilee empowered and energized to proceed with His mission (Luke 4). The Holy Spirit of God sustained the Son of God throughout His life so that He would accomplish all that the Father had given Him to do (as was predicted by Isaiah; cp. Isa. 61:1,2 with Luke 4:16f.).
Jesus exercised complete authority and power over the demonic spirits whenever He encountered them. Even when the apostles who had been granted authority to perform exorcisms (Lk. 9:1) were unable to do so, Jesus was able (Lk. 9:37f.). His power was the Spirit of God, and He was possessed to the utmost. (See Mt. 12:22f. Interestingly, in Luke 11:20 the Spirit is referred to as the 'finger of God'. The Spirit is God's hands and feet as it were.)
The Spirit revealed to Jesus the thoughts of men (Mk. 2:8) enabling Him to respond with penetrating insight to their skepticism, doubts, and malicious intentions. The Spirit also moved Jesus to experience emotions. In Luke 10:21f., for example, Jesus rejoiced that the Father had hidden the truth about who He was from wise and intelligent in Israel, but had revealed the truth to simple fishermen and farmers.
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples to be with them forever, abiding in them and teaching them all things, and bringing His words to their minds. He indicated that the Spirit would bear witness of Christ, and reveal to them what He hears above and what was to come. He would glorify Jesus (Jn. 14:16f.; 16:5f.). Jesus made good on His promise when He breathed the Spirit upon them after the resurrection (Jn. 20:22) and then lavished Him upon the whole Church after Pentecost (The Book of Acts).
All in all, the human life of our Lord on earth was immersed in the Holy Spirit; the Spirit permeated and endowed everything He did, said, thought, felt, and perceived. It was the divine Spirit which enabled the human Messiah to fulfill His mission with perfection, perseverance, and power.