What comes to mind when you hear the word "dependence?" A general answer to this question might be something along the lines of this: "a state of mind where an individual is exceedingly dependent on someone, or something."
Using the above description, it would be fair to say, for example, that the relationship between children and parents is a good illustration of dependence. Another, could be the relationship between the sun and life on earth.
As is seen above, a condition of strong need is indicated by the word "dependence." Accordingly, during the life and works of Our Lord Jesus, both as the Man and Servant of God, he was reliant (dependent) on the Holy Spirit.
Fortunately, this is something that is pointed out, perhaps, more than any other single thing in Scripture. We shall examine some of these direct references to the Holy Spirit and His action in relation to Jesus, and conversely.
Matthew 1:18 tells us that Mary's pregnancy was the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus' conception was nothing short of miraculous! In addition, This will fulfill Isaiah's prophecy that a virgin will give birth to God's Son (Isaiah 7:14).
The Holy Spirit was the Father's promised endowment to Jesus, as written in Matthew 12:18. This event occurs immediately following His baptism by John the Baptist. Again, this points back to an earlier prophecy found in Isaiah 42.
Clear and positive evidence that Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit is found in Matthew 4:1. At the end of the previous chapter, the Holy Spirit came to rest on Him, along with the voice of God declaring Jesus as His Son.
It was the Holy Spirit, following Jesus' baptism, that led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. It was purely intentional on God's part that Jesus should undergo this testing.
Of course, we know that Jesus' faith didn't need strengthening. However, putting Jesus to the test showed that he remained sinless, even after He was tempted to sin just as we are (Hebrews 4:15).
The close "dependent" relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is quite obvious even in the few verses that were given. There are many more instances we were not able to give fair consideration to because of our limited time and space.
Even so, the best part of all of this is that the believer in Jesus Christ also partakes in the benefits of this special relationship. Thus, because of our "dependence" on Him, we too, are recipients of the Holy Spirit!
As Ephesians 1:13 tells us, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,"
Scripture: John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Romans 8:9
Prayer: "O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams." - Saint Augustine
Grace and blessings,
Margot
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