Explain the relationship between Jesus and the Spirit and why it is significant for our salvation.
The Gospel of John, in the words of John the Baptist, recognizes the relationship between Jesus and the Spirit; “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33-34). As such the Spirit is seen as a separate entity who works in conjunction with Jesus in the role of salvation. Understand that the Spirit has always been at play in the world. Prior to the Incarnation, the Spirit was recognized as the “Spirit of God”, and in this aspect was the Spirit recognized by Jesus. As related by O’Collins, “…Jesus himself described the divine Spirit in a fairly normal Jewish way: the dynamic power of God having its impact on Jesus and through him on others” (153). So early in Jesus’ ministry, the Holy Spirit was there to provide the human Jesus with the power necessary to complete His earthly mission, culminating with His Passion and death. Jesus …show more content…
Still equally separate, Christ and the Holy Spirit become unified in a way where the Holy Spirit now becomes revealed to the world. As understood by O’Collins, Jesus, as the divine Christ and by the power of the resurrection, “…now shares in God’s prerogative as sender and giver of the Spirit” (153). Jesus recognized the necessity of the gift of the Spirit to help lead and guide humanity towards salvation. As such, Jesus Christ was able to send as this special gift, the Holy Spirit to all His disciples at Pentecost. Because the Holy Spirit is now the Spirit of Christ, the characteristics that were recognized and shared by the historical Jesus, such as understanding, knowledge and fortitude (examples of gifts of the Spirit), along with love, joy, and peace (examples of fruits of the Spirit), could now be shared and used by all those who accepted Christ as their Lord and
The Gospel of John, in the words of John the Baptist, recognizes the relationship between Jesus and the Spirit; “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33-34). As such the Spirit is seen as a separate entity who works in conjunction with Jesus in the role of salvation. Understand that the Spirit has always been at play in the world. Prior to the Incarnation, the Spirit was recognized as the “Spirit of God”, and in this aspect was the Spirit recognized by Jesus. As related by O’Collins, “…Jesus himself described the divine Spirit in a fairly normal Jewish way: the dynamic power of God having its impact on Jesus and through him on others” (153). So early in Jesus’ ministry, the Holy Spirit was there to provide the human Jesus with the power necessary to complete His earthly mission, culminating with His Passion and death. Jesus …show more content…
Still equally separate, Christ and the Holy Spirit become unified in a way where the Holy Spirit now becomes revealed to the world. As understood by O’Collins, Jesus, as the divine Christ and by the power of the resurrection, “…now shares in God’s prerogative as sender and giver of the Spirit” (153). Jesus recognized the necessity of the gift of the Spirit to help lead and guide humanity towards salvation. As such, Jesus Christ was able to send as this special gift, the Holy Spirit to all His disciples at Pentecost. Because the Holy Spirit is now the Spirit of Christ, the characteristics that were recognized and shared by the historical Jesus, such as understanding, knowledge and fortitude (examples of gifts of the Spirit), along with love, joy, and peace (examples of fruits of the Spirit), could now be shared and used by all those who accepted Christ as their Lord and