The Lamb and the Spirit

As I read this passage this morning, it strikes me that Jesus has not yet begun what is often called His public ministry. His authoratative teaching events, miracles and wonders, and power encounters with both human and spiritual enemies are yet in the future. And prior to any of these public ministry events, Jesus is filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This seems, to me, to be a sort of pattern when it comes to performing any kind of Christian ministry. Ministry, by its very nature, is not something I do for God, but rather something God chooses to do through me. For that reason, the filling of the Spirit is critical if I want my ministry to be God's rather than my own. Perhaps this is why even Jesus told His disciples to wait until they had been filled by the Spirit before they went out to begin gospel ministry.

A second thing that strikes me is what you could call the "external nature" of the Holy Spirit. God does not set free a Spirit that already existed within His Son. Rather, we are told that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. This argues against the modern idea that people already have the power of God within them and simply need some help in removing the obstacles that prevent the "God within them" to be set free. Rather, the Holy Spirit comes to us...from outside of us...as we present ourselves to God. In this way, when the Spirit comes upon us, He actually changes us and provides us with a real presence and power that was not previously within us.

Third, there seems to be a connection between the ministry of Jesus and the ability of other people, in addition to Jesus, being filled by the Spirit. John openly admits in this passage that it will be Jesus who baptizes people with the Holy Spirit. The exact manner and method are not revealed by John, but it is evident that it will be because of Jesus ministry that the Spirit will become available to the rest of humanity.

Finally, there is a connection between the event of Jesus being filled with the Spirit and the declaration of His Sonship. Somehow, because Jesus is filled by the Spirit, John recognizes that Jesus is in fact the Son of God. And while Jesus is a divine, eternally existing Son that makes him unique from all others, it is interesting that the Spirit also confirms within the heart of the believer that we are also sons and daughters of God. In fact, the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

So, as I take a superficial look at this passage, it seems to suggest these things. That as a Christian, the filling of the Spirit is critical if my ministry is to gain the results God desires. This Spirit comes upon me as I present myself to God as His servant and He chooses to take an external Spirit and place it within me...thus changing my very nature. The only way for this to happen is if I am connected with Jesus who is in charge of pouring out that Spirit into the lives of His people. And finally, when this happens I am not only empowered for ministry, but the Spirit confirms within me that I am, in fact, a child of God.