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In
the books of Luke and Mark, we discover that Jesus believed that He
would dwell in the “tribulation saints” and speak through them at
the time of their persecution. We read:
“But
before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute
you, delivering you up to the synagogues,
and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my
name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts,
not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you
a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able
to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and
brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause
to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
(Luke 21:12-17)
In this
account, Jesus taught that He would be dwelling in
the believer, and would give them the words that they should speak.
However, the parallel account in the book of Mark teaches that it is
the Holy Spirit that gives the believer these words:
“But when
they shall lead you, and
deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak,
neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that
hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the
Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to
death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall
cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but
he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark
13:11-13)
Obviously,
one gospel quotes Jesus verbatim; one gospel interprets His
words. However, since the Bible calls the “Holy Spirit” the “Spirit
of Christ,” there is no mystery. The same God that was
incarnate in the Son is manifested on the earth as
God’s presence. For this reason, Christ elsewhere identifies the
Spirit that dwells in believers as the “Spirit of the Father.” In
Matthew, we read:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in
the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless
as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the
councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye
shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a
testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you
up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be
given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye
that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and
the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause
them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but
he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:16-22)
Jesus identified the Holy Spirit to be
the “Spirit of the Father” in this passage. This follows His Jewish
interpretation of this passage, which teaches that the “Holy Spirit”
is the Spirit or “breath” of the one true God of Israel. If this is
not the case, did Jesus fail to identify the “third person of the
trinity” in this passage? Of course, the answer is no. If there were
a trinity, Jesus would have taught it. Instead, He properly
identified the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of the God who dwelt within
Him (John 14:10)
Remember, Paul
taught in Ephesians:
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord,
one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all.”
(Ephesians 4:3-6)
There is only ONE Spirit of God. This one
and selfsame Spirit dwelt in Christ (John 14:10; Colossians 2:9,)
therefore, Jesus could truthfully say, “I will give…a mouth and
wisdom,” when it was the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of the Father—who
would speak through them!
©
2008 By Russell Redden. All Rights Reserved |
