“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Luke 24:45 NLT
In the final moments, it happens. Jesus unlocks the doors that have kept the disciples minds cloudy, unsure of how all that was written and all that they personally experienced would be all connected to Jesus himself. He was and is the great mystery. Jesus was and is the final puzzle-piece that allows the entirety of the picture to make sense.
Luke writes of this grand sweep of records kept from early on in God’s story to his people, the Jews. There were millions of other things going on in the world, but God’s specific story of redemption would be told through Israel and all of it pointed to one promised messiah, Jesus. “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” All of it spoke of the very moments that Jesus lived to be, to show, to highlight the Word becoming flesh – dwelling, dying, defying the curse, hell and the grave. And after he had descended, bringing good news to those even to those imprisoned in hades itself, he would now ascend and restart the clock, reset the timer on finishing the plan to return for the finality of the earth.
However, just before Jesus exits the earth, he mentions leaving a gift, a promised going away present, that would be necessary to thrive in the years ahead until his second coming.
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Before, in all of history since the creation of the world, the Holy Spirit would come down and do a work, fill a king, come upon men and women to do extraordinary things here on earth. It was always powerful, but temporary. The Spirit of God would come and rest on a human being then leave after the specific job was accomplished.
Jesus was telling his disciples. Now, the Holy Spirit would come and STAY! The Holy Spirit would come and dwell among them just as He had done. The Holy Spirit would come and fill all who would welcome him just as anyone of the disciples would open the door of their heart welcoming Jesus himself.
Just as Jesus had given his followers the power and authority to say and do the work of God, just like he was doing among them. All the healings, the works of miracles, would be done still in the power of Jesus’ own name, but within each believer. In each believer would reside the Holy Spirit in the unique way of not just being a witness in our soul, speaking to our soul of the truth of God, but now exponentially more through the power of God to accomplish his will. This gift of visitation would not just be a quiet sense of assurance of salvation and peace with God, but now also the explosive power of God to do the supernatural.
It’s no wonder people are concerned about receiving such a gift, being filled with such an amazing but weighty responsibility to allow the Spirit of Jesus, the power of God himself to address the current issues of our day. It’s not a personal power, to feel goosebumps and tingles as the Spirit of God comes upon our bodies. It’s a purposed power to free prisoners from invisible handcuffs of sin, to kick out demonic powers that invade and create a home of hell within a victim’s mind. It’s power to heal and restore lost hope as a person struggles to see that their life is valuable and has worth in God.
No wonder it makes Christians really think about accepting such a gift. Maybe you don’t want that kind of responsibility, that accountability in your life.
Was Jesus just making this up, or is it real? Was Jesus just speaking to the few who had gathered to hear that promise or is it for every believer? Do I really want that gift? Do you? It is so interesting that the Holy Spirit’s name is defined as “one who comes alongside,” the paraclete in Greek. That part everyone likes about the Holy Spirit. The comforter, the encourager who speaks so gently and counsels us in our fears, our weakness, our struggles. But oh, that’s not the only picture of the Holy Spirit. Jesus and Paul describe the power of Spirit as one who raised Christ from the dead who comes upon humans with incredible power.
This phrase, “opened their minds to understand,” is also a way of explaining the way God’s story is unfolding. The Law, the prophets and psalms are all fulfilled, accomplished in Jesus, but the story continues doesn’t it. Jesus words, “and now” are a connector to what is to come. He speaks of the Holy Spirit and says, “just as the Father promised.” The “filling” of the Holy Spirit isn’t something necessarily new, it’s a continuation of what God has always been up to in human history.
The Holy Spirit is God, eternal, everlasting. This application point when Jesus says, “wait,” means that in God’s grand plan, this is how it was always intended to be. This is the time of the Holy Spirit’s permanence, to us, to be in and a part of every believer’s life to not only to dwell but to comfort and empower. This is God’s way of multiplying not only the gospel (repentance and salvation through Jesus), but also that there is now a physical representation of himself IN US, through us. Not just to live as witnesses to the gospel, but as powerful ambassadors to neighbors, friends and family members who are hurting, suffering and need a real and physical touch from God! That touchpoint is so needed today.
For those who are asking or curious about this “infilling” moment, this empowerment of gifts, including, but far from limited to speaking in tongues, this has always been a part of the plan and the story. I’m sorry if we as church or denominational leaders have been either divisive or combative about this going away gift to all believers. I’m sorry if we’ve under-emphasized or over-emphasized on specific aspects or applications of this gift. We never meant harm to you or the body of Christ.
We’ve just struggled with trying to “protect” or control the Biblical narrative. You now know – we can do neither! We’ve left a mess with all this because, well, we are messy people and don’t always get it right. The Pharisees took this approach to protect and control and failed miserably. Just know this; this “gift of the Spirit” is and has always been God’s plan and it would work fantastic if we would just obey and cooperate with Him instead of fighting and bickering with each other.
PRAYER
Dad,
This ideal of yours about unity in the body of Christ is so much more difficult than I ever imagined. I understand church and denominational leadership types have different and even strong opinions, but it has hurt the body we are supposed to be serving. Your Word does not need taken apart, watered down or explained away and reduced to be powerless. It is what it is because You are who you are! We’ve done such disservice to the church and the world by trying to control your commands! It’s so frustrating and embarrassing. Please help us. Please bring us together for the sake of souls and the gospel.