The Holy Spirit is active and powerful in every part of the Gospel:
- Through the old prophets the Spirit predicts the coming of Christ (1 Peter 1:10-12).
- Through Mary He gives unique life on earth to the Son of God. “She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit…for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18,19; see Luke 1).
- Through the eternal Spirit, Christ offers Himself to the Father as the perfect sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 9:14).
- The Spirit raises Christ from death, and promises the same for us (Romans 8:11).
- He fills John the Baptizer, and leads the apostles and their helpers into “all truth” (Luke 1,12; John 14,16; Acts 1,2; 1 Corinthians 2,12).
- He shares His holiness so we can enter God’s presence (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Peter 1:2).
The Spirit shows Himself most clearly at Jesus’ baptism, coming to Him “in bodily form, like a dove” (Luke 3:22). John recognizes this sign and tells the people,
I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33).
This event proves Jesus to be “the Son of God” (John 1:34). The Father in heaven voices agreement: “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). (Father, Son and Holy Spirit are named together at this water baptism. How fitting that their names unite again in the believer’s baptism, which is literally “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19.)