In the second
Psalm, the Messiah is the Son of God and the ideal king anointed by God to rule the
nations, the one to whom the “kings of the earth” will pay homage. And in
the gospel accounts, he is anointed by the Spirit at his baptism, equipping him
for the proclamation of the “kingdom of God” to all of Israel.
However, unlike the kings and high priests in
the Hebrew Bible, the Messiah is anointed unilaterally with God’s Spirit rather
than olive oil, an event that sets him apart for ministry as the herald of the
kingdom and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh - (Psalm 2:6-9, Isaiah
61:1-2, Psalm 45:7, Isaiah 11:1-5, 42:1, 59:21).
All four gospel accounts record how the
Spirit descended on him at his baptism, and that day, his messianic status was
confirmed by visual and audible effects (“descended like a dove… This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased” - Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:10-11, Luke 3:22, John 1:32).
ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT
In the Old Testament, certain men were
endowed temporarily by the Spirit when necessary for specific tasks.
In contrast, in the gospel accounts, the
Spirit descends and remains
on Jesus. Moreover, he has the fullness of the Spirit, “not by measure,”
as was the case with the kings and priests of old - (John 3:34).
Following his baptism, the Spirit drives
him into the wilderness to be tested by the Devil. But where Israel failed
during its sojourn in the wilderness, Jesus overcomes the Adversary by
submitting to the Word and will of his Father. Not only so, but afterward, he “returns in
the power of the Spirit to Galilee” - (Matthew 4:1, Luke
4:13-14).
In the gospels, Christ attributes his miracles to the Spirit
of God, not to any inherent superhuman power possessed by him. When he is accused
of exorcising demons by the power of Satan, he retorts, “but if I, by the Spirit of God, cast out
demons…”
And if the Spirit of God is manifesting among men in his words and deeds, “then is the kingdom of God come upon you.”
This last point is also the understanding
of the early church about his ministry, and it is reflected in the epistles and
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.”
- (Romans 1:4) – “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated unto the glad-message of God, which he promised beforehand, through his prophets, in holy scriptures, concerning his Son who came to be of the seed of David, according to flesh, who was distinguished as the Son of God by power, according to a Holy Spirit, through means of a resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
LORD OF THE SPIRIT
The presence of the Holy Spirit is integral
to the identity, mission, and deeds of the Messiah. But Jesus is also the one
who dispenses the Spirit to his followers, and he promises to send the Spirit after
his glorification, and that same Spirit “bears witness of me”:
- (John 7:37-39) – “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, just as said the Scripture, river from within him shall flow of living water. Now, this spoke he concerning the Spirit which they who believed on him were about to receive; for not yet was there Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified!”
- (John 15:26) – “Whensoever the Advocate shall come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which from the Father comes forth. He will bear witness concerning me.”
As Paul writes to the Ephesians, “having
ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Thus,
the possession of the Spirit and the authority to distribute its gifts belong to
Jesus - (Luke 24:45-49, Acts 2:33-38, Ephesians 4:8-12).
BEARING WITNESS
After his ascension, Jesus “sends the
promise of his Father upon” his disciples to empower them for gospel
proclamation. That is part and parcel of how the Spirit “bears witness” to
him. And since he now reigns, he has “received of the Father the promise of
the Holy Spirit.”
Just as the Spirit set the Son apart to
declare the “kingdom of God” to Israel, so the gift of the Spirit
empowers his church to preach the gospel to “all nations.” Ever since his ascension, that is the
primary task of his disciples, but they cannot carry it out without the
presence and activity of the Spirit.
Just prior to his ascension, his disciples
ask him about the timing of the “kingdom of God.” He responds by stating
that such matters are in the hands of God alone – “It is not for you to know
times and seasons.”
Instead, he commands them to wait in
Jerusalem until they receive the “promise of the Father,” that is, the
gift of the Spirit. Only then will they become his “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judaea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
- “You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you. But tarry in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” - (Luke 24:45-49).
Thus, just as the Spirit of God set the
Messiah apart for service and empowered him to proclaim the gospel, so, also,
the gift of the Spirit now designates his disciples as the heralds of his
kingdom, and it empowers them to execute this task throughout the earth.