Fourth Sunday in Lent - Mar 19, 2023; Mar 10, 2024; Mar 30, 2025
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. -Acts 10:36-38
We’ve already spoken of how Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, now we can note the importance that he was anointed “with the Holy Spirit and power”.
By first being anointed with the Holy Spirit, we see a unity in the work of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. All that Jesus has done for us, the Spirit knows intimately. “[T]he Spirit searches for everything, even the depths of God,” Paul says (1 Corinthians 2:10). Because the Spirit is so acquainted with and connected to the work of Christ, we can trust that the Spirit reveals the truth of Jesus’ cross for us. Paul goes on to say that we received “the Spirit that is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Jesus, likewise, said the Spirit “will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14).
It is an amazing thing to think that the Spirit that led Christ leads the Church. It is comforting to know that the same Spirit that lived in Jesus is the one we ultimately say will share Jesus with us. And it is a miracle to realize that just as the Spirit anointed Jesus at his baptism by John, so is this same Spirit poured out to us in our baptism too.
Whoever has the Spirit has the Son, and whoever has the Son has the Father.
Holy Spirit, you are the great Helper. As you anointed my Lord Jesus with power, may you share with me the gifts that come from his faithful use of that power. Amen.
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