What relationship did the Holy Spirit have in relation to Jesus? How could it be said of the all-sufficient Son of God that he needed to be anointed? How could perfection be said to grow in stature, wisdom and favour with God (Luke 2:52)? Was Jesus self-reliant, or was he in need of the Holy Spirit’s help?

At various levels, Christians have struggled to try and understand the relation between the Holy Spirit and Jesus particularly during his years on earth. Some have suggested that the Holy Spirit only truly engaged him at his baptism with John; while others have insisted that the Holy Spirit was a constant companion from his birth. How are we to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the earthly life of Jesus?

This week, Pete and the Curious team examine the Holy Spirit in connection to the life of Jesus. What it meant when the angel told a reticent Joseph that the child Mary was carrying was, “of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.1:20). How the Spirit anointed him, filled him, drove him into the wilderness, empowered him for ministry, delivered him to the cross, and gloriously partook in his powerful resurrection. Looking at the writings of both Scripture and the great saints, the team unpack the indispensable place of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus.


Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

Why Jesus Needed the Holy Spirit - DesiringGod.org

The Spirit's Role: The Life of Jesus - PlaceforTruth.org

What we’re reading?

As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes. We’ve been getting stuck into the following;

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

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