Jesus had mentioned the Holy Spirit several times before His crucifixion. Now He gave His disciples specific instructions about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.[1]
The disciples were aware of John’s water baptism. It didn’t give salvation, but it did prepare hearts for the Messiah. Multiple Old Testament prophets had prophesied the coming Messiah who would bring the Spirit. Ezekiel 36: 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. [2]
Need for the Power of the Spirit
Jesus had given the disciples the command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). As a small group of people, this task must have seemed daunting. But the Holy Spirit would empower this task. Jesus had already given the disciples insight into this power.
John 14: 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. [3]
John 16: 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.[4]
Luke 12: 11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” [5]
The Presence of the Holy Spirit
Jesus’ last statement in the Gospel of Matthew is a promise to be with His followers always. Yet, Jesus ascended back to heaven. Because Jesus was in a human body, He could only be in one place at a time. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus remains spiritually present. He had explained this to His disciples the night before His crucifixion.
John 14: 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.[6]
Jesus’ disciples had to wait in Jerusalem for this filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. They would not be able to disciple others without the Spirit’s power. We, too, need the filling of the Holy Spirit to carry out the same command to make disciples. Depend on Jesus to be with you through the Holy Spirit. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/discipled-to-make-disciples
[1-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.