The Holy Spirit and the Birth Narratives

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The Holy Spirit and the Birth Narratives 30/12/2020

Derrick Harrison 12/30/2020

The Holy Spirit and the Birth Narratives I have thought carefully about the title of this talk. I remember the title of a book, “God’s empowering presence” (Gordon Fee) which is an exposition of all Paul’s references to the Holy Spirit in his writings. This title brings me close to what I want to say about the way in which the Holy Spirit works in the Birth narratives. I see several strategic and decisive actions of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who are part of this nativity story. The people involved are Zachariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna, John and Jesus, the shepherds and the Magi. The first 2 couples (pairs) are characterized by godliness, John and Jesus fit into a different category as both their stories begin prior to their conception and then we read about their birth, childhood and adulthood. Simeon and Anna both represent a small core of godly people associated with second temple Judaism and they speak prophetic words over Jesus. Also, participating in the nativity stories are the shepherds and Magi who also encounter the actions of the Holy Spirit.

Godliness is evident in the character of each of those who participate in the Spirit’s activity but their personal spirituality is not the cause of His actions, but their godliness is compatible with His actions. It is godliness we must view in the context of Judaism and the Law, like the godliness of the apostle Paul which he describes in Phil.ch.3. It must also be noted that the two couples, Joseph and Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth have a high pedigree according to their genealogies. God is honoured when our character is consistent/compatible with the Spirit’s nature but our godliness is not the reason for the Spirit’s action. The cause and purpose of the Spirit’s action/manifestation is to articulate the will of God – by initiating and moving forward the will of New Life Radio – Talk No 12

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God by initiative action in our lives and circumstances, by speaking, quickening, empowering and leading. The Spirit’s activity is very evident in the events before us. He is prevenient not only in grace but also in strategic planning and preparation. Few of us would realize that the Magi set out on their journey of over a thousand miles, perhaps a year before the angel visitations. What had they read in the ancient manuscripts of the Jewish Scriptures that had alerted them to the significance of the star which had appeared in the eastern sky? There is one prophetic word which speaks of a star, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:

there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth” (Num.24:17).

In which Scripture had they read about a Child who will be born a king?

Perhaps they had received their own angel visitation, announcing to them the coming of the Child born to be King and instructing them to follow the star which appeared in the sky, whose constant shining was so bright and powerful - beckoning them, urging them forwards, its light so compelling that by faith they embarked on a hazardous and lengthy journey to some place God would direct them to, as thy faithfully followed, night by night, the course of the star in the sky, leading them to Jerusalem. Would you consider that instruction to be the action of the Holy Spirit? God also found in these wise magi, listening ears and believing hearts resulting in action – God was on the move and His mission compelled these men forwards with urgency.

The expectation of these men anticipates all those who will seek to find the promised Christ child. Their long journey tested their faith but only served to strengthen their resolve. Imagine their joy when the

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shining star comes to a standstill over Bethlehem and focuses its light directly above the holy family of Joseph, Mary and the Child King, – we read that the Magi prostrated themselves before the Child in the manger, worshipped Him and gave their costly gifts in honour and reverence to Jesus. They brought carefully chosen gifts, gold associated with kingship, frankincense associated with priesthood and myrrh associated with death and embalming.

The birth narratives begin with Zachariah who is fulfilling his responsibility as a priest, officiating in the temple at Jerusalem. As he sprinkles the incense on to the live coals in his censor/pan before the altar, the incense rises, swirling around him, enveloping him in a fine fragrant cloud, veiling him from the sight of God lest he die. This scene was reminiscent of the Day of Atonement, the one Day in the Jewish religious calendar when the High-Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the mercy seat with drops of fresh blood from a sacrificial lamb. The day of actual atonement when Jesus would give His blood as a sacrifice was only 30 years distant, a day which will be heralded by John, the promised son of Zachariah and then executed by his cousin Jesus on the cross. The angel suddenly appears, standing at the right side of the altar, arousing fear in the heart of Zachariah. This annunciation compares to God’s visitation to Abraham announcing the birth of a son through Sarah and now the angel announces the birth of a son to Elizabeth who is barren like Sarah.

Luke presented first the actions of the Spirit, thus establishing that the first objective of the Holy Spirit’s presence is to initiate and ensure the accomplishment of the Lord’s will concerning the birth of Jesus – Elizabeth’s pregnancy and delivery prepared the way for Mary. The second emphasis in the birth narratives are the timely oral

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communications, the Spirit of God speaking forth the words of God, by prophesying, bringing forward OT Scriptures and initiating God’s purposes by speaking into the lives of His servants. The word of the Lord is affirming, predictive and predetermines events and circumstances. The third feature of these birth narratives is the unprecedented way (it is a uniquely new phenomena) in which the Holy Spirit comes upon each individual one by one; Luke describes this phenomenon as being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

In actual fact the order of Scripture is that the Lord speaks His prophetic word, predicting the future, revealing His future plans and purposes. Many of those prophecies foretell the coming of the Messiah. These prophecies are fulfilled through Jesus Christ coming as Emmanuel to dwell among us and to fulfil Father’s will to bring salvation through His death on the cross. The prophetic word (spoken by the unction of the Holy Spirit) is fulfilled in God’s time by the actions/activity of the Holy Spirit demonstrated so powerfully in the Birth narratives.

I think it is important to look again at the principles Luke laid down for himself in writing his Gospel, which equally applies to his writing of Acts. I believe also that we must recognise the hand of each Gospel writer which marks out each Gospel as unique and of particular worth.

Later, when we look at each Gospel, we will identify the interests of each writer. All that needs to be mentioned here is Luke’s interest in the Holy Spirit. Remember that Luke was Paul’s travelling companion, shown in the “we passage’s” in Acts. It is Luke who on three occasions records Paul’s account of his Damascus experience that Paul did not tell us. Luke would not have travelled with Paul as a mere observer, he would have been engaged in mission as a key worker. It was Luke who

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described the occasion at Ephesus when Paul prayed for about 13 disciples of John to receive the Holy Spirit. It is this first-hand knowledge and experience of Paul’s ministry and his association with the Holy Spirit’s activity in the early church which enabled him to confidently record the acts of the Holy Spirit which took place in Luke 1-3.

Before we examine them let me say that this is a totally new manifestation of the workings of the Holy Spirit not found in the OT. The centrality of the prophetic gift is evident throughout the OT, but usually operating in prophets raised up by God to proclaim His word to the nation. There was one occasion when 70 elders prophesied when they were anointed by the Holy Spirit to assist Moses in judging the people and I am sure you will find other occasions of prophecy. These prophecies became the bedrock of Scripture. I believe that a steppingstone to what we find in Luke can be seen in the community of Jews who returned from Exile, which is shown to us in Ezra and Nehemiah where we find ordinary men and women alongside priests who together are engaged in a genuine renewal of the Holy Spirit. Here is a unique situation where ordinary people and families are rubbing shoulders with priests in the presence of God. Of course, the former catalyst for renewal were the godly kings of Judah, but that hierarchical structure has gone and at that time the hierarchical structure of the priesthood was not oppressive. Interestingly, Nehemiah was ministering alongside Ezra and he was a builder and administrator but equally involved in spiritual ministry.

Turning now to the Birth narratives we discover a tiny community of godly Jews (only Zachariah is from the priesthood and he disbelieves the testimony of the angel). His priestly office does not actually mark

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him out as different when it comes to the manifestation of spiritual gifts). The members of the godly group associated with second temple Judaism are Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, Anna. The magi and the shepherds are two identifiable groups who encounter the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit. Obviously, we must include the activity of the angels who each announce God’s words, explain things that will happen, and engage in dialogue and worship. We include the annunciations to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds.

The occasions when the angel Gabriel comes to each person in the birth narratives Angels work in conjunction with the Spirit’s actions, The annunciation to Zachariah; before the altar in the temple, acknowledging his prayers and announcing the promise of a child to Elizabeth.

“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk.1:13-17)

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The annunciation to the virgin Mary, obviously this visitation of the angel is of primary importance above all other annunciations when the angel announces the promise of a child to her and explains how this will happen followed by Mary’s faith and the immediate conception/incarnation of Jesus in Mary’s womb.

“And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

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Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her” (vv28-38).

The annunciation to Joseph, Gabriel appears to him to explain the cause of Mary’s pregnancy. There are two important references to the Holy Spirit and the conception (see the words in bold type below, v18, 20). Verse 18, comes before the annunciation, but I have included it here because it stands alongside the angel’s statement in v20).

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (v18). “behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mat.1:20-22).

The annunciation to the shepherds, this annunciation is very different from the others. Gabriel announces something that has already taken place; Jesus has been born in Bethlehem. The angel does not foretell, but forthtells the glorious fact of Jesus’ birth. He praises and heralds with joy Jesus’ arrival and \he is joined by a host of angels proclaiming salvation to the world.

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all New Life Radio – Talk No 12

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people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Lk.2:9-14).

There are 15 references to angels in Luke 1-2, and 24 references in total in the Gospel, and also note Luke’s references to angels in the book of Acts (21 references).

The occasions when the Holy Spirit comes upon each person in the birth narratives, John Baptist the unborn baby. John is filled with the Spirit and leapt in the womb of Elizabeth his mother, when he heard the greeting of Mary (Lk.1:41), this results in, Elizabeth being filled with the Spirit, she sings prophetically in the Spirit to Mary, “Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk.1:42-45).

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Mary responds to Elizabeth’s prophetic singing and she sings prophetically in the Spirit – both with exuberant joy), “And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name” (vv46-50).

John is born as a result of the Holy Spirit giving to Elizabeth fertility to conceive (1:13).

Zachariah speaks out the word of the Lord (prophecy) as the Spirit comes suddenly upon him at John’s circumcision, “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel …” (Lk.1:6768).

Luke is clear that Zachariah at that moment was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.

Jesus is conceived and born by the direct action of the Holy Spirit. I have talked about the conception of Jesus already, – the angel bears witness to the creative action (conception) of the Holy Spirit Mat.1:18, 20) and the angel explains how this will take place (Lk.1:35).

Simeon holds Jesus in his arms and speaks in fulfilment of the prophetic word which had come to him long before the event and here is the time of its fulfilment!

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting New Life Radio – Talk No 12

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for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So, he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said …” (2:25-28).

Simeon speaks prophecy over both Jesus and His mother and Joseph, “Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (vv34-35).

Anna speaks prophecy (none of her prophesies are recorded in Scripture), this godly intercessor arrives in the temple at precisely the moment determined by the Spirit of God. Again, the Spirit had been at work in preparation for this moment of Anna speaking forth the prophetic word. The word had come to her, but like Daniel she had given herself to fasting and intercession in order for the word to be fulfilled, “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, … she was of a great age, …a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (vv36-38).

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The Holy Spirit was active in many other ways, in the ordering of circumstances: for example, in specific timings (2:27, 38), in the incident of the guidance of the Magi in understanding the Scriptures and the supernatural phenomena of the guiding star and other occasions.

The accessibility of the Spirit and the profusion of His gifts The Holy Spirit’s anointing comes upon each one of His servants, He is no longer the exclusive possession of prophets, special leaders, priests and kings. We are witnessing something new here, which began in the spiritual renewal following the return of the exiles from Babylon, events which are described in Ezra/Nehemiah. The entire community of returned exiles were engaged in God’s actions, rather than renewal being dependent on godly kings, renewal is coming from the grassroots of the nation – the families (including children) are engaged in the nation’s repentance and the community of God’s people request that the Scriptures be read and expounded to them as they stand listening. In the birth narratives we find the same thing, ordinary people – a village priest and his barren wife, a simple virgin girl betrothed to a carpenter, a poor widow woman and an elderly man waiting for Jesus to appear, shepherds doing their job, - these are the people God chooses to engage with Him in His eternal purposes to bring salvation to the world. Consider Mary and what God was going to accomplish in her womb. The wonderful thing is that the Lord seeks for our personal responsiveness to His eternal purpose and plan for the nations. He urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him and by giving our bodies we yield up every part of our being to Him as a living sacrifice which is exactly what Mary did, she yielded her body to God and in her womb was instantly conceived the Christ child. God begets His Son in us and so we through our bodies, our New Life Radio – Talk No 12

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personalities/natures manifest the risen and glorified Christ to the world.

This study of the actions of the Holy Spirit continues throughout Luke’s writings and includes, 1) the Holy Spirit in the ministry of John the Baptist, 2) the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus Christ, 3) the Holy Spirit’s actions/manifestations in the early church, 4) the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the apostle Paul. Of course, our study concludes with the nativity.

The occasion of the Spirit’s action and the manifestation of His gifts Annunciation: Zachariah/angel prophecy Annunciation: Mary/angel prophecy Mary greets Elizabeth John an unborn child

Luke 1:13-17, 24- Gift of fertility to 25 Elizabeth

Elizabeth responds to Mary Mary’s song Zechariah names John

1:35-38 1:40 1:41 1:42-45 1:46-55 1:60, 6-79

Conception/incarnation of Jesus Prophetic greeting Filled with the Spirit, leaps Filled with Spirit, prophesies Prophetic song Filled with Spirit,prophesies

Significantly, Luke records the action of the Holy Spirit when John heard Mary’s greeting to Elizabeth, he instantly leapt in her womb (strong action – praise/joy), and instantly his mother Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (1:41). Here are a series of actions and responses; Mary’s greeting (action), John’s response and then New Life Radio – Talk No 12

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Elizabeth’s response to John’s action. The Holy Spirit is in the midst of all these actions/responses by our three key characters.

A further question: What can we learn about the actions and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they are described by Luke and how are they different from His actions in the church as described by Paul? One basic principle is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are the same throughout Scripture, the gifts of prophecy and healing, discernment and knowledge, because they come from one Holy Spirit and function/operate through men and women who also do not change.

However, we can identify various aspects of how the gift of prophecy is being employed. We can examine the prophesies of Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary and identify the features of their prophecy and compare it with Paul’s criteria for prophecy (1Cor.14:3-5).

We are seeing before our eyes the beginning of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit which is fully manifested in the ministry of Jesus who is baptized in the Holy Spirit; the same baptism is made available to the disciples through the exalted Christ who mediates the Holy Spirit. It is significant that Luke has no reference to the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life (in contrast to John who encounters the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb) until the moment when the heavens are opened and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the Jordon River as He is baptized by John. Luke is thus emphasising the centrality of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, Jesus having been baptized in the Spirit will baptize others in the same Spirit. Following this receiving of the Spirit, Luke now emphasises the action/activity of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life and ministry. There appears to have been no limitation to our key personalities being “filled with the Spirit” or manifesting spiritual gifts, but the baptism in the Spirit occurred later at Pentecost, resulting from Jesus’ exultation.

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The phrase, “filled with the Holy Spirit” applies to those in the Birth narratives and to us also

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