On three special occasions, Jesus made the promise of the Holy Spirit to His disciples.
On Passover, the evening of Jesus' arrest, after they had finished their meal, Jesus began to tell His disciples about the Holy Spirit. Even knowing His time had come, He wanted to give them the promise, the reassurance, and the comfort of the Spirit:
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (One who pleads another's cause before a judge, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate, an intercessor, called to one's side, summoned, helper), that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you....the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jn. 14:16-27
After this last teaching, and other instructions and insights, Jesus then enters into intercessory prayer for the disciples (Jn. 17).
After this last teaching, and other instructions and insights, Jesus then enters into intercessory prayer for the disciples (Jn. 17).
On the same day as His Resurrection, on the Feast of First Fruits, Jesus appeared before the disciples where they had been hiding in fear of the religious authorities. Jesus entered into their hiding place, and stood in the midst of them:
"So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" Jn. 20:21-23
Just before He ascended into heaven, in the sight of all the disciples, He gave His final instructions while He was still here on earth. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father which they had heard from Him:
"...for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized by the Holy Spirit not many days from now...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:5-8
On these three very important, even earth-shaking occasions, Jesus made sure to instruct His disciples in receiving the Holy Spirit. This speaks to us of the importance of this to Him, and to us. It seems on these occasions, however, the minds of the disciples were on other things.
On the first occasion of Passover, the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the disciples argued about "which of them should be considered the greatest" (Lk. 22:24). This was also the same night that Jesus washed their feet, and promised them the Holy Spirit.
On the second occasion, on the Day of Resurrection, Jesus breathed on them, and told them to "receive the Holy Spirit". Afterwards, however, life continued on as it normally would with Peter announcing "I am going fishing", and four other disciples agreeing to go with him (Jn. 21:2-3).
On the third occasion, the Day of Ascension, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit. At this time, the disciples were more concerned with the question of when Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). It might have been on their minds as they continually asked this question of Him, because when Jesus would reign as the Messiah, they also would reign with Him, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt. 19:28, Lk. 22:29-30).
Although several hundred (I Cor. 15:6) saw Jesus after His resurrection, and at His ascension, only 120 actually waited in Jerusalem, as He had asked them to do. They indeed received the baptism of fire, the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father.
The Promise of the Father in giving the Holy Spirit through His Son, is a life-changing moment, not only to the believer, but also for all creation. The Promise doesn't depend upon how "great" we are, it only matters how great He is.
"...for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized by the Holy Spirit not many days from now...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:5-8
On these three very important, even earth-shaking occasions, Jesus made sure to instruct His disciples in receiving the Holy Spirit. This speaks to us of the importance of this to Him, and to us. It seems on these occasions, however, the minds of the disciples were on other things.
On the first occasion of Passover, the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the disciples argued about "which of them should be considered the greatest" (Lk. 22:24). This was also the same night that Jesus washed their feet, and promised them the Holy Spirit.
On the second occasion, on the Day of Resurrection, Jesus breathed on them, and told them to "receive the Holy Spirit". Afterwards, however, life continued on as it normally would with Peter announcing "I am going fishing", and four other disciples agreeing to go with him (Jn. 21:2-3).
On the third occasion, the Day of Ascension, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit. At this time, the disciples were more concerned with the question of when Jesus would restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). It might have been on their minds as they continually asked this question of Him, because when Jesus would reign as the Messiah, they also would reign with Him, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt. 19:28, Lk. 22:29-30).
Although several hundred (I Cor. 15:6) saw Jesus after His resurrection, and at His ascension, only 120 actually waited in Jerusalem, as He had asked them to do. They indeed received the baptism of fire, the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father.
The Promise of the Father in giving the Holy Spirit through His Son, is a life-changing moment, not only to the believer, but also for all creation. The Promise doesn't depend upon how "great" we are, it only matters how great He is.
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