Jesus walked in the power of all of the gifts listed in I Corinthians 12:1-10. He displayed all of the gifts in the book of John, except tongues and the interpretation of tongues. It could be argued that he even displayed this gift, because of his ability to talk with everyone that he met with no language barriers. John mentions miraculous signs seventeen times in his Gospel.32 Smith says, “…the Christological emphasis in his Gospel is unmistakable.”33 This Christology would include the meekness of man and the power of God; the power that is given through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” 1 Corinthians tells us that the gifts are given through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had the gift of wisdom. The Jews were amazed at his teachings. He had no formal training but he was teaching them in the theology of a scholar (John 7:14-24). The Holy Spirit worked in Jesus to tell him what to say. Mark 13:11 says, “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus had the gift of knowledge. John tells about the woman that Jesus spoke to at the well. Andreas Köstenberger, Encountering John, says that John 4:17-18 regards Jesus’ supernatural knowledge.John the Baptist testified about Jesus with a supernatural knowledge that came from the Holy Spirit. He was full of the Spirit from the womb (Luke 1:15). John 6:61- 70 includes the gift of knowledge. Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray him. John 14:26-27 says:
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
It would seem here, aside from the supernatural peace, that Jesus is saying he will give supernatural knowledge to those who believe as well. He said the Holy Spirit “will teach you all things.”
Jesus had the gift of faith. He had the faith to know that Lazarus would be raised from the dead (John 11:1-37), along with all the other miraculous works that he did. He believed, never doubting, that what he asked of the Father would be done.
Jesus had the gift of Healing. He healed the official’s son (John 4:46-54). He healed the man at the pool (5:1-15). He healed the man born blind (9:1-12) and he raised Lazarus from the dead (11:38-44). The power of healing, like his other gifts, was available to him at all times.
I have laid my hands on people many times and the Lord has chosen to use me to heal. I have seen people healed instantly. Sometimes I pray for someone and they are not healed. Sometimes I pray for someone who is not healed until they are prayed for by another believer and then God heals them. There is no formula and God is not in a box. The most important thing is to be willing to allow God to use you to do his ministry at any given time. You should never be afraid to pray for someone out of fear that your prayer will not be answered and you will look bad. The focus is not on you, for it is God who answers the prayer; not you!
Jesus had the gift of miraculous powers. He changed the water into wine (John 2:1-11). He fed the five thousand (6:1-15) and he walked on the water (6:16-24). Not all believe that Jesus had miraculous powers. According to Erickson, Rudolph Bultmann “concluded that much of the New Testament is myth…” Bultmann considered the language in the New Testament to be that of symbolism. The miracles of Jesus were simply works that could not be described other than to make them sound bigger than they really were. One has to wonder what the definition of miracle is for Bultmann. Nevertheless, most who believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God realize that it is not speaking figuratively. It is stating the life a man who was fully God and fully man and could do things beyond mortal limitations. Josephus, a Jewish historian, said, “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it is lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works – a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ…” Some scholars have refuted as to whether Josephus actually wrote these words, but William Whiston says:
“…and since the principle testimony, which is that concerning Jesus of Nazareth himself, has of late been greatly questioned by many, and rejected by some of the learned as spurious, it will be fit for me, who have ever declared my firm belief that these testimonies were genuine, to set down fairly some of the original evidence and citations…”
He continues by stating:
“…The style of all of these original testimonies belonging to Josephus is exactly the style of the same Josephus, and especially the style about those parts of his antiquities wherein we find these testimonies. This is denied by nobody as to the other concerning John the Baptist and James the just, and is now become equally undeniable as to that concerning of Christ.”
Jesus had the gift of prophecy. Jesus prophesied about his death in the Good Shepherd discourse (John 10:11-18). His prophecies further include the power that the Christian who abides in him will be able to sustain through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit prophesied through Caiaphas that it was better for one man to lay down his life for a nation in John 11:50-52. However, can the Holy Spirit speak through an evil man? Origen answers this question with a resounding “no”. According to Ronald E. Heine, Origen had a major problem with this line of thinking. Origen said that Caiaphas could not have possibly prophesied because the Spirit had not come upon man yet. Jesus had not yet been glorified. However, when confronted with the problem that the Spirit of Lord had in fact come on people of the OT, he had to recant his previous stance and give an answer of uncertainty. Heine writes:
Finally, he answers the last question by asserting that “evil spirits too can bear witness to Jesus and prophecy of him…as that spirit which said, ‘We know who you are, the holy one of God.’ Origen concludes his discussion by presenting a defense for the view that the Holy Spirit did speak through Caiaphas. He denies that this is his own view, however and leaves it to the reader to draw his own conclusions about Caiaphas’ prophecy.
The question is, “If it was not the Holy Spirit, then what sort of spirit prophesied in Caiaphas?” In Numbers 24:2 the “Spirit of God came upon” Balaam to prophecy for Israel. We must conclude that God will speak through evil men since he spoke through a pagan diviner. The Spirit of God in this passage was indeed the Holy Spirit. Therefore, even though Origen concludes that it was not the Holy Spirit that spoke through Caiaphas, but that of another spirit, it is safe for us to conclude that it could have been, and probably was, the Holy Spirit giving the prophecy that Jesus would lay down his life for the nation of Israel and indeed all mankind.
There are many examples of the gift of prophecy in the Gospel of John. Some examples are:
o Jesus predicted his death (12:7-5).
o Jesus predicted his crucifixion (12:23-34).
o Jesus predicted his betrayal (13:18-30)
o Jesus predicted the Peter’s three time denial of Jesus (13:38).
o Jesus prophesied that the Holy Spirit would come (14:15-21, 25-27; 15:26-16:16).
o Jesus prophesied that the disciples would leave him all alone (16:31-33)
After quoting John 16:13-14, RSV, Wayne Grudem said, “Thus, the disciples are promised amazing gifts to enable them to write Scripture: The Holy Spirit would teach them ‘all things,’ would cause them to remember all that Jesus had said, and would guide them into ‘all the truth.’” The simple conclusion is that Prophecy is prevalent in the NT under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had the gift of discernment. He discerns between spirits many times in the Gospels. He discerns that the religious leaders are of the Devil (John 8:42-47). He discerns the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees (9:35-41). He also discerns that the Jews (religious leaders) are not his sheep (10:22-30).
It is safe to say that Jesus operated in all the gifts (probably even tongues). All of these gifts were in operation because of the Holy Spirit. He walked on the earth in the completeness of God and fullness of the Spirit (John 3:31-36). He said that he must go so that he could send us the Spirit to reside with us (Luke 24:44-49).
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Spirit Testifies to the Life of Jesus
The Spirit of God testifies to Jesus. He filled John the Baptist from birth and it was the testimony of the Spirit through John that he was given the power to speak of the glory of Jesus. Luke 1:15 says, “for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.” John 5:31-32 says that God sent John the Baptist to testify to the validity of Jesus.
John was filled with the Holy Spirit and testified so that men could understand who Jesus was, thus fulfilling prophecy. God the Father testified to Jesus also when the Holy Spirit descended on him at his baptism. Although the Baptism of Jesus is not mentioned in John’s Gospel, it is assumed that people would already know of this event from previous Gospels. The Spirit testified to Jesus through the Prophets of the Old Testament as well. John 1:45 says, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
In The Gospel According to John D.A. Carson says that there are six passages in John’s Gospel where scripture speaks or writes of Christ. He also says, “By predictive prophecy, by type, by revelatory event and by anticipatory statute, what we call the Old Testament is understood to point to Christ, his ministry, his teaching, his death and resurrection.” God has been preparing us for the coming of Christ since the beginning of Genesis.
The Spirit gave testimony of Jesus through his earthly ministry. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was empowered by the Spirit to do God’s work. In Encountering John, Andreas Köstenberger says, in John’s Gospel, “…references to the Spirit are limited almost exclusively to his role in Jesus’ earthly ministry…” However, this power is also shown to be given to us as well. Mark 1:8 says, “I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Parenthesis Added).” Luke 11:3 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Köstenberger says the power of the Spirit shows through in Jesus’ ministry by miraculous signs. It is difficult to read of Jesus’ earthly ministry and not see the miraculous.
John was filled with the Holy Spirit and testified so that men could understand who Jesus was, thus fulfilling prophecy. God the Father testified to Jesus also when the Holy Spirit descended on him at his baptism. Although the Baptism of Jesus is not mentioned in John’s Gospel, it is assumed that people would already know of this event from previous Gospels. The Spirit testified to Jesus through the Prophets of the Old Testament as well. John 1:45 says, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
In The Gospel According to John D.A. Carson says that there are six passages in John’s Gospel where scripture speaks or writes of Christ. He also says, “By predictive prophecy, by type, by revelatory event and by anticipatory statute, what we call the Old Testament is understood to point to Christ, his ministry, his teaching, his death and resurrection.” God has been preparing us for the coming of Christ since the beginning of Genesis.
The Spirit gave testimony of Jesus through his earthly ministry. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was empowered by the Spirit to do God’s work. In Encountering John, Andreas Köstenberger says, in John’s Gospel, “…references to the Spirit are limited almost exclusively to his role in Jesus’ earthly ministry…” However, this power is also shown to be given to us as well. Mark 1:8 says, “I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Parenthesis Added).” Luke 11:3 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Köstenberger says the power of the Spirit shows through in Jesus’ ministry by miraculous signs. It is difficult to read of Jesus’ earthly ministry and not see the miraculous.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
You Must Be Born Again
John 3:5-15 says that no one can enter into the kingdom of heaven unless he is born again. Israel’s teacher, Nicodemus could not understand this great mystery. Jesus said in verse five, “…no one can enter into the kingdom of heaven unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” This verse has drawn a host of interpretations, but it seems clear enough that it was interpreted in the very next verse. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (3:6).” In other words, we are born of water in the mother’s womb and then born of the Spirit when we accept Christ into our heart. Carson explains that the previous interpretation is only one of many interpretations and explains:
Many find in ‘water’ a reference to Christian Baptism (e.g. Brown,2. 139-141) for Bultmann (pp.138 n. 3) and others who have followed him, this is so embarrassing that he suggests the words ‘water and’ were not part of the original text, but added by a later ecclesiastical editor much more interested in Christian ritual than the evangelist himself…Those who adopt this position, of course, are forced to admit that John’s words could have had no relevance to the historical Nicodemus.”20
In other words, some use this as an argument that one must be baptized to be saved.
There are other places in the Bible where it appears as though water is the symbol for the Spirit. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:37-39).
This is a plain explanation from John that the living water from within is the Spirit.
The washing of the disciple’s feet in John 13:8 is not necessarily a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but possibly a symbol of the servitude that will be instilled in each believer when he is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them” (13:17). Carson says that it is a symbol of what Christ has done for us on the cross. He says, “The act of footwashing is a symbol of this complete washing, and not some additional cleaning.”21 As with much of the Bible this is quite possibly one of the meanings, but the Scripture is rich and has many meanings. Jesus is also speaking of being a servant. He is admonishing the disciples to keep serving one another in love and thus continue to show the world the true meaning of love (13:12-16).
Many find in ‘water’ a reference to Christian Baptism (e.g. Brown,2. 139-141) for Bultmann (pp.138 n. 3) and others who have followed him, this is so embarrassing that he suggests the words ‘water and’ were not part of the original text, but added by a later ecclesiastical editor much more interested in Christian ritual than the evangelist himself…Those who adopt this position, of course, are forced to admit that John’s words could have had no relevance to the historical Nicodemus.”20
In other words, some use this as an argument that one must be baptized to be saved.
There are other places in the Bible where it appears as though water is the symbol for the Spirit. Jesus said to the woman at the well, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:37-39).
This is a plain explanation from John that the living water from within is the Spirit.
The washing of the disciple’s feet in John 13:8 is not necessarily a symbol of the Holy Spirit, but possibly a symbol of the servitude that will be instilled in each believer when he is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them” (13:17). Carson says that it is a symbol of what Christ has done for us on the cross. He says, “The act of footwashing is a symbol of this complete washing, and not some additional cleaning.”21 As with much of the Bible this is quite possibly one of the meanings, but the Scripture is rich and has many meanings. Jesus is also speaking of being a servant. He is admonishing the disciples to keep serving one another in love and thus continue to show the world the true meaning of love (13:12-16).
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