Man of the Spirit

When an angel informed Joseph that the child carried by Mary was “conceived of the Holy Spirit,” it indicated that something more than just a miraculous birth was about to unfold. From the beginning of his ministry, the activity of the Spirit dominated the life of Jesus of Nazareth. He was “Jesus, the one called Christ,” namely, the “Anointed One,” the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.

Jesus was the quintessential man of the Spirit. Neither his Messianic mission nor his present reign can be understood apart from the presence and activity of the Spirit of God in his life.

[Photo by Štefan Štefančík on Unsplash]

That same Spirit now sets his people apart for service to the Kingdom of God. Ever since his exaltation, Jesus is the one who dispenses the Gift of the Spirit, empowering his Assembly to proclaim his reign and the message of salvation to the nations of the Earth.

In the Hebrew Bible, the verb translated as “anointed” is ‘mashakh’, meaning “smear, daub; to anoint” (Strong’s Concordance, #H4899). It is the word from which the corresponding English term ‘messiah’ is derived. The Greek noun used in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament is ‘christos’ (Strong’s Concordance, #G5547).

The English term ‘Christ’ is the anglicized spelling of this Greek noun, ‘christos’. Both ‘mashakh’ and ‘christos’ denote someone or something that is “anointed” - (Leviticus 4:3, Daniel 9:25, Mathew 1:16).

Under the Levitical system, olive oil was used to “anoint” persons and things to separate them for sacred service. In the ancient Tabernacle, the altar, tent, table of showbread, and the vessels employed in sacrificial rituals were all “anointed,” along with the High Priest. Kings were anointed at their enthronement, which is why they were called “Yahweh’s Anointed” - (1 Samuel 12:3, 26:11, Psalm 2:2, 45:7).

A key messianic prophecy applied to Jesus by the New Testament is from the Second Psalm - (e.g., Matthew 3:17, Hebrews 1:1-5, Revelation 12:5):

• (Psalm 2:1-9) – “The kings of the Earth take their station, and grave men have met by appointment together, against Yahweh and against HIS ANOINTED ONE… My Lord will mock them: Then will he speak to them in his anger, and in his wrath confound them: Yet I have installed my king, on Zion my holy mountain. Let me tell of a decree, Yahweh has said to me: You are my son. This day, I have begotten you.

The Psalm portrays the ideal king of Israel who was appointed to sit on David’s Throne forevermore. In the Psalm, he is “Yahweh’s anointed” as well as “My King” and “My Son.”

THE SPIRIT

Unlike the kings and priests of Israel, Jesus was anointed with God’s Spirit, not olive oil. The presence of the Spirit is what set him apart from all his predecessors and contemporaries.

All four gospel accounts describe the Spirit descending on Jesus following his baptism in the Jordan. In each account, his anointing was confirmed by a visual effect (“descended like a dove”) and an audible voice from Heaven (“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” – Mark 1:1-9, John 1:32-34).

When the voice identified him as “My beloved Son,” it echoed the clause in the Second Psalm, “You are My Son.” The descent of the Spirit signified that he was “anointed” by God for his mission as the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.

In the Old Testament, certain men were endowed temporarily by the Spirit for specific tasks. However, the Spirit descended and “REMAINED ON” Jesus - He received the fullness of the Spirit, and “not by measure” - (John 3:34).

Following his baptism, Jesus was driven “by the Spirit” into the wilderness where he was tested by the Devil. The Gospel of Luke records that after defeating Satan, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.” Shortly thereafter, while preaching in a synagogue, he declared:

• “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because HE ANOINTED ME to preach good tidings to the poor. He sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised.” - (Luke 4:13-18).

Hence, it was the Spirit that equipped him for ministry, and he himself attributed his miracles and deeds to the Spirit of God. For example, when he was accused of exorcising demons “by the power of Satan,” he retorted, “But if I, by the Spirit of God, cast out demons” - (Matthew 12:28). This was also the understanding of Luke as he explained in the Book of Acts:

• (Acts 10:38) - “How GOD ANOINTED HIM with Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the adversary because God, was with him.”

The Spirit is integral to the identity, mission, and goal of the Messiah. Jesus is also the one who bestows the Spirit on his people, just as he promised to send the Spirit after his glorification:

• (John 7:37-39) – “If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He that believes on me, just as said the Scripture, Rivers from within him shall flow of living water. NOW, THIS HE SPOKE CONCERNING THE SPIRIT WHICH THEY WHO BELIEVED ON HIM WERE ABOUT TO RECEIVE; for, not yet was the Spirit, because not yet was Jesus glorified” - (John 15:26).

[Photo by Trevor Vannoy on Unsplash]

After his Ascension, he “sent the Promise of his Father,” the Gift of the Spirit to his disciples, enabling them to proclaim the Gospel “to the uttermost ends of the Earth.” As Paul wrote to the congregation in Ephesus, “Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

The possession of the Spirit and the authority to distribute its gifts belong to Jesus. He now reigns over the nations and the “Kings of the Earth” from the Messianic Throne at the “right hand of the Majesty on High.” Not only is he the Messiah, but he also is the ultimate Man of the Spirit.

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RELATED POSTS:

• His Name is Jesus - (The name Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the Nazarene, the salvation promised to Israel has arrived in all its glory)

• Servant and King - (After his baptism in the Jordan, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of Yahweh)

• Son of David - (Jesus is the son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh)