I realize that the title of this post is a provocative one, and it is meant to be. However, there is no greater example of a Spirit filled person than the Savior Himself. He is the greatest example of charismatic spirituality that ever lived. Follow along:
Matthew 1:18 tells us how Jesus was born of the Spirit.
Matthew 3:13-17 describes how He was baptized and anointed by the Spirit. Before this He never did a single miracle, and we’ll talk about that more as we go along.
John 3:34 says that Jesus had the Spirit without measure.
Scripture further describes all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 operating in Jesus’ ministry with the exception of tongues and interpretation
- Wisdom- Luke 22:10-13; John 2:22-25
- Knowledge-John 4:16-18
- Discernment- Matthew 9:4
- Prophecy -Matthew 24
- Faith-Matthew 17:20
- Healing-Matthew 8:5-13; 9:1-7
- Miracles-Matthew 8:26; John 2:1-10
The Bible doesn’t say conclusively whether or not Jesus spoke in tongues, although it does say that He “rejoiced in the Spirit” (Luke 10:21) and “groaned in the Spirit” (John11:33). This terminology is very similar to the term “Praying in the Spirit,” which Paul uses to describe praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14: 14-16). However, even if Jesus did not speak in tongues, there are a number of possible reasons why. For example, since He was sinless, He had perfect communication with the Father, and therefore, He did not need tongues. Also, He was the last person to function as a prophet under the Old Covenant. Tongues are a New Testament phenomenon.
Even if Jesus didn’t personally speak in tongues, He Himself stated that tongues would be a normative sign to follow believers (Mark 16:17). We will discuss this more in a moment, but it is important to note that all of the twelve disciples and even Jesus’ mother Mary spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1-4). In fact, the entire New Testament was written by people who spoke in tongues.
Many people who read the accounts of Jesus’ miracles assume that the reason He was able to do them was because of His divinity. Of course, He was God in the flesh, the second Person of the Godhead. That never changed. However, I would like to draw your attention to an important Scripture which puts this into a different context. That passage is Philippians 2:7, which we will examine in a number of different translations:
- King James: “…But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
- New American Standard: “…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
- New Living Translation: “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,”
When it describes Jesus as “emptying” Himself, the Greek word is keneo, which means “to empty, deprive of content, to render void.” When Jesus was on earth, He never stopped being God, but He did empty Himself of some of His privileges as God. That was the only way He could fully identify with humanity. He got tired. He got hungry. And this was why He wasn’t able to do miracles until He was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t have the power to do miracles because He was God, although He certainly was. But Jesus had the power to do miracles because He was a man who had been filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. And that is how He can offer that same power to you and me today!
How is this possible? We will now look at John 14:12, which is one of Jesus’ most intriguing statements. Again, we will examine it from a variety of translations:
- King James: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
- New American Standard: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
- New Living Translation: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”
By the time the disciples heard Jesus say these remarkable words, they had already seen Him walk on water, feed the multitudes, heal the sick and even raise the dead! Now, He is saying that those who believe on Him could also do, not only these things, but even greater things? How can this even begin to be possible? We find our answer in the surrounding verses:
- “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever…(John 14:16,NIV).”
- “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26, NIV).”
- “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (John 16:7, NIV).”
As we have previously discussed, the Holy Spirit has always been in the world, but Jesus’ death would make it possible to relate to Him in a way that had never before been possible. While in the Old Testament, the Spirit would come on select people for certain select purposes. Now, He would be coming to indwell believers individually and be with them forever! It would no longer be necessary to physically seek Jesus out. His presence would be abiding in His people to continue His work on a far wider scale than it ever could have while He was physically on the earth.
Following His death and resurrection (which was also a work of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:11), Jesus appears to His disciples. What happens next is fascinating. In John 20:22, it states that Jesus breathed on His disciples and told them to “…receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
