The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Life and Teaching of Jesus

INTRODUCTION/KEY EXEGETICAL TEXTS

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”(Acts 10:38[NIV]).

            The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus Christ had left mark in Christendom. This legacy continued with the Apostles who lay down the foundation of the New Testament cannon of scriptures. The Historical move of the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven can be seen in the book of Acts; meanwhile, Matthew, Mark, and Luke synoptically recorded the ministry of the Holy Spirit in consistent parallel arrangement. This paper deals with few miracles and events which unfolded as recorded taking the following topics into consideration:

1. Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage
2. Two Blind Men
3. The Dumb Demoniac
4. The Harvest is Great
5. Commissioning the Twelve
6. The Fate of the Disciples

The fulfillment of Acts 10:38 is confirmed in these events during the ministry of Jesus Christ.

            The healing of Jairus’s daughter is recorded in Matt. 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:40-56. Jairus is recorded in scripture to be one of those who had faith in God. He recognized his true identity to be unworthy for Jesus’ visitation at his premises; consequently, he asked Jesus to only speak a word for his daughter’s healing and Jesus did. Jesus recognized him as one of the men who had faith in God.

            After Jesus having healed Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the bleeding disease, he met two blind men while passing through Jericho. The blind men were sitting by the roadside as recorded in Matt. 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, and Luke 18:35-43. As a great multitude followed Jesus, a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside. He began to cry out when he heard that Jesus was passing by. “Son of David have mercy on me” said the blind man. Many rebuked him; nevertheless, he was persistent. Due to his persistency, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him and he was eventually and miraculously healed from the blindness.

            After the healing of the blind man, the dumb demoniac was brought to him for healing. This is recorded in Matt. 9:32-34, Mark 3:22, and Luke 11:14-15. The ministry of the Holy Spirit was demonstrated as Jesus healed the dumb demoniac. After the healing of the demoniac, it was accompanied by the great harvest. The teaching ministry of Jesus surfaced; as the result, he went to all cities, villages, and towns to declare the Gospel of the Kingdom. This is recorded in Matt. 9:35-38, Mark 6:6b; 6:34, Luke 8:1; 10:2, and John4:35. These scriptures talk about the teaching and evangelistic ministries of Jesus Christ. After the manifestation of these ministries, Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples. He sent them out two by two. This commission resulted into a mission adventure. This is recorded in Matt. 10:1-16, Mark 6:7; 3:13-19; 6:8-11, and Luke 9:1; 6:12-16; 9:2-5; 10:3 respectively. After the commissioning of the disciples, he warned them to be aware of deceitful men who will deliver them to the councils to be flogged.

THEOLOGICAL ISSUES

            God is the one who works miracles. He is always on time to meet the sick and the needy. There is no distance between the sick and prayer; however, it takes faith to receive miracles from God. Jairus’ daughter got healed as the result of Jairus’ faith in God. The tendency for God to heal us does not depend on distance, but it depends on faith. Has God changed in his doing? God has not changed in working of miracles. Some believe that miracles ceased with the apostles. Miracles did not cease with the apostles. God works miracles today. If miracles had ceased then the immutability of God would be questioned. Indeed miracles did not cease with the apostles.

            If Jesus himself was involved in the teaching and commissioning of people; then, the church of Jesus Christ should do the same. God is interested in soul winning. The church is called to do and to complete what Jesus left.

THEOLOGICAL APPLICATION

            The Church of Jesus Christ is here to minister healing through prayer, to commission believers to reach the lost, and to carry out discipleship as Jesus did. If we will be effective in these ministries, we must allow the leading of the Holy Spirit to empower us to carry out the work of God. Without the Holy Spirit, we are unable to do ministry.