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The sign given by God to John the Baptist, of how he would know who the Messiah would be, is stated for us in his own words –
"And John [the Baptist] bore witness –
| 'I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God [the Messiah]'." |
In other words, it was not task-specific — but personal and continuing.
Holy Spirit also anoint the Old Testament prophets of God?
Yes, but it was their function as prophet which was anointed, just as the high priest of Israel carried an anointed function, during that function and in that function. This was very different! Theirs was not a continuing personal relationship to the Spirit.
is illustrated for us in the Spirit's anointing upon the evil high priest Caiaphas who condemned Israel's Messiah to death.
So the Bible tell us –
So the Bible tell us –
| "But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, 'You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.' He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." |
Caiaphas had no continuing personal relationship to the Holy Spirit of God, yet the Bible says that he prophesied, and that this was simply because he was high priest that year.
the unique anointing which came upon Jesus as He rose from the water of His baptism under the hands of John, the anointing which designated Him as Israel's Messiah, was new and therefore unique in all human history. It is specifically this newness which is represented in the appearance of the Holy Spirit as a 'dove' to John, because humanity's new beginning after the Flood was signified to Noah by the dove which came to him.
This new personal relationship of the Holy Spirit to Jesus had absolutely nothing to do with His eternal deity. The Lord Jesus Christ had humbled Himself beyond comprehension to become the babe in Mary's womb. After about thirty years of human life, learning to walk, talk, think, and hear God, His obedience as a human being received an anointing of the Spirit of God which was unprecedented in all human history.
the Baptist had said concerning the unique human identity of the Messiah of Israel –
| "Whoever receives His [the Christ's] testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For He [Jesus] whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He [God] gives the Spirit without measure [to Him]." |
John 3:34
This personal relationship of the Holy Spirit which was given to the sinless humanity of Jesus at His baptism was a relationship that was not task-related. It was not for a given time or for a given purpose. It had no limit!
The Lord Jesus stated to His disciples that it was to their advantage that He leave them so that the Holy Spirit could come to them, that is – as He had been with the Christ. This is the basis of Christ's disciples being described in the New Testament as the Body of Christ, for in consequence of His substitutionary atonement, the Holy Spirit was given to relate to the disciples as being "in Christ". This happened on the Day of Pentecost in 30 AD for all in Christ.
against this background and because of His unique obedience and the special redemptive work of Jesus the Christ that the Bible says –
| "But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him." |
Thus, the Spirit of God was Himself given to minister through Christ's disciples just as He had ministered through Jesus –
| "Jesus stood up [in the Temple] and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'." Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." |
He has been glorified by God, and so this same Holy Spirit of God was given to all God's people at Pentecost, as He had been given to Christ at His Jordan baptism. Therefore now, the works of Christ and the character of His ministry must have continuity in all Christ's people or we are not walking in intimate fellowship with God as Jesus walked.
