His Work In Incarnation And Atonement.

by J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh | Category: The Holy Spirit | Apr 1977

The Old Testament Scriptures are replete with prophecies of the coming Christ. The men who, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, penned them were intensely interested in the things they wrote about, although they knew that their fulfilment lay in the future (1 Pet. 1:10-12). These Spirit-given prophecies were completed some 400 years before Christ came, but as the time drew near a few godly men and women were living in a state of expectancy. Among them were Simeon, Anna and others. To Simeon it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Lord's Christ before he departed this life. We do not know the particular circumstances of that special revelation but we do know that Simeon had diligently studied the prophetic writings. His knowledge of these writings was revealed in his expressions of praise and thanksgiving when the promise was fulfilled and he at last held in his arms the incarnate Son of God, the Christ (Luke 2:29-34). That experience provided a fitting climax to a godly and faithful life.

As the 'fulness of the time' approached, the necessary initial steps were taken for the fulfilment of the divine purpose, the first of these being the announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Zacharias. It is sad to relate that the godly Zacharias displayed unbelief when he heard the angel's pronouncement, and in consequence he experienced the chastening hand of the Lord in that he remained dumb until soon after his child was born (Luke 1:20). Six months later the same heavenly messenger was sent to Nazareth to a humble Hebrew maid called Mary to inform her of the unique role she would fulfil. Gabriel's reply to Mary's question clearly indicated the part that the Holy Spirit would play in the incarnation:

"The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most

High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that which is to be

born shall be called holy, the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

She did not, at that time, fully understand all that was involved in the angel's words, but her willing resignation to the will of God is worthy of emulation.

Luke records the delightful episode of Mary's visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias. How much they would have to talk about during those three months! These two women were closely linked in the fulfilment of the divine purpose, and we are enriched by their Spirit-given utterances.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of Zacharias was revealed by his expressions of praise and thanksgiving when his tongue was again loosened following the birth of his son. In his song of praise he looked forward to the visit of the "Dayspring from on high" (Luke 1:78) and when that prophecy was fulfilled a new day had indeed dawned for mankind.

The anxieties of Joseph, Mary's betrothed husband, were removed by the words of the angel in which the part the Holy Spirit would play was again emphasized. Joseph was directed to the specific prophecy relating to the virgin birth that was given through Isaiah (Isa. 7:14). The purpose behind this miraculous event was highlighted in the instruction given to Joseph, that the Child to be born should be called Jesus (Jehovah the Saviour). He was not, at that time, coming to reign; He was coming to put away sin (Matt. 1:19-25).

The mystery of the incarnation is for ever beyond the understanding of human minds; it is a miraculous event that we accept by faith as a fact revealed by Holy Scripture:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: He

who was manifested in the flesh ... (1 Tim. 3:16).

The virgin birth was essential for the work the Lord had come to accomplish, by this means He, who is eternally God, became Man. Only a divine Saviour could accomplish man's salvation. Isaiah spoke of the Child born who was also the Son given. Micah, who foretold the birthplace of the Christ, also clearly recognized the eternal being of the One who would appear:

But thou, Bethlehem ... out of thee shall One come forth .

whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting (Micah. 5:2).

Luke gives us a few glimpses of the childhood of the Saviour, sufficient to indicate something of the unique fragrance of those youthful days. The years spent in Nazareth were years of preparation. Of Timothy it is recorded that from a child he had known the Sacred Writings (2 Tim. 3:15) and, in a fuller way, this was true of the Child Jesus. In His early life He manifested a love for the Scriptures, acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of them by diligent study. The learned doctors of the law at Jerusalem were amazed at the understanding and answers of the twelve-year-old Boy from Nazareth as He sat in their midst, "hearing them, and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). The evidence was there in those early days of the complete dedication that was so manifest in His manhood. "Wist ye not that I must be in the things of My Father" (Luke 2:49 RVM). The Scriptures with all their wealth of detailed prophecy and delightful types and shadows must have been especially precious to Him in whom they were to find fulfilment (John 5:39).

Included in those preparatory years were the years of patient toil at the carpenter's bench, and in those humble surroundings He was content, and experienced the great peace of those who love God's law.

At last the years of preparation drew to a close, and, at the time appointed, the Lord turned His feet towards the Jordan where John the son of Zacharias was baptizing repentant ones.

John's specific mission was to prepare the people for the appearing of the Messiah in their midst, announce His arrival, and then recede into the background, mission accomplished. For such a work he had been uniquely fitted, being filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifest in John's ministry, and many were roused from spiritual lethargy to a state of lively expectancy.

As Jesus came up out of the water the Holy Spirit in form as a dove descended upon Him (Mark 1:10). At least two purposes were fulfilled by this event; firstly it provided the promised sign to John (John 1:33,34), and secondly it was the promised anointing by the Spirit to empower the perfect Man to accomplish the work into which He was entering (Acts 10:38).

The baptism in water to which he willingly submitted before He began His ministry was also a foreshadowing of the awful baptism to which He would willingly submit at the end of His ministry (Luke 12:50).

The Spirit-given record takes note of the fact that from the Jordan the Lord was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and also that He was led by the Spirit while in the wilderness. It was according to the divine plan that the second Man, who was also the Lord from heaven, should be subjected to those specific assaults of the adversary at that particular time. He emerged victorious from the period of testing, having effectively used His acquired knowledge of the written Word to defeat the tempter. In this there is a lesson for us. It is only as the Word is stored up in our minds that it can be used as the Sword of the Spirit to defeat the adversary, therefore we should diligently store our minds with the Scriptures.

In the power of the Spirit the Lord returned to preach in the synagogues of Galilee. Eventually he came to Nazareth and, in the very synagogue where Sabbath after Sabbath He had sat and listened in those preparatory years, He stood up to read:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to

preach good tidings to the poor" (Luke 4:18).

How wonderfully this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in the Lord's lifetime! What joy it must have given the divine Spirit to work through the perfect Man and find in Him One who was fully responsive to His leading and guiding! In that incomparable life the delightful fruits of the Spirit were manifested to the full: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22,23). In this He has left us an example that we "should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). In His life He translated godliness into the terms of everyday living. To such a perfect standard we shall never fully attain, but we should endeavour to display a pattern in our lives that others might be induced to emulate. Paul was conscious of the value of such living examples (1 Cor. 11:1).

The power of the Spirit was clearly demonstrated in the mighty works the Lord performed. We recall that He challenged His critics by saying:

"If I by the finger of God cast out demons then is the kingdom of God come upon you" (Luke 11:20).

That holy sinless life was the necessary prelude to the great climax for which He had come: to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:26). "This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ" (1 John 5:6). The obedience He manifested in life was to be an obedience even unto death (Phil. 2:8). His precious blood had to be shed in death to effect atonement for the sinner. It was for this purpose that He became incarnate. He had come to be the 'Daysman' that Job had visualized coming between God and man, knowing fully the requirements of a holy God and the needs of fallen man.

As the time appointed drew near He turned His face towards Jerusalem, knowing the things that would befall Him there (Luke 9:51). He would not allow Himself to be deflected from the pathway of obedience. To do the will of God was the consuming desire of the perfect Man and so, "through the eternal Spirit (He) offered Himself without blemish unto God" (Heb. 9:12). That Sacrifice accomplished what all the sacrifices of a past day could not accomplish; it put away sin.

The reality of the humanity of Christ was further emphasized in His death. He became Man that He might die (Heb. 2:14) but, because He was sinless, death hath no power over Him; He voluntarily entered into it. He dismissed His spirit, His soul went down to Sheol, and His body was laid in the tomb.

The Spirit-given prophecies were again gloriously fulfilled when, on the third day, He rose in triumph, quickened in the Spirit (1 Pet. 3:18).

In His resurrected body He appeared unto His own, giving them commandment through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2), and in that body He returned to heaven. The effects of the incarnation and the atonement remain,

"To the end that we should be unto the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: In whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, - in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God's own possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:12-14).

J.K.D. Johnston, Musselburgh | Apr 1977
The Holy Spirit