In this study, we look at how the Holy Spirit was at work in the life of Jesus from His early years all the way to His ascension. In a previous lesson, we may have seen the Spirit’s role in the incarnation. Here the focus is on Christ’s life on earth. As we follow these events, we see that the Holy Spirit was involved in His growth, His baptism, His testing, His ministry, His death, His resurrection, and His final words before returning to the Father. This helps us understand how central the Holy Spirit is in God’s plan.
Boyhood
The Bible does not tell us a great deal about Jesus’ childhood, but it does show us that He grew as a real human child. Like other Jewish children, He would have heard the Law and the Prophets in the synagogue. Luke tells us that Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). When He was about twelve years old, He amazed the teachers in the temple with His understanding of the Scriptures (Luke 2:46–47). Even in these early years, we can say with confidence that the Holy Spirit was guiding His development and preparing Him for His mission.
Christ’s Baptism
At Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, there was a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Matthew says that after Jesus was baptized, “the Spirit of God” descended like a dove and came upon Him (Matthew 3:16). This is one reason the dove is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We also see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together in this moment: Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke from heaven, and the Spirit descended (Matthew 3:13–17). Jesus did not need a baptism of repentance because He had no sin. Rather, this moment marked His public anointing for the ministry that lay ahead.
Christ’s Temptations
After His baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and nights, where He faced temptation from the devil (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13). Luke tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into this time of testing (Luke 4:1). This was part of God’s will, as Christ proved Himself to be the perfect Savior through suffering and obedience (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:9). At every temptation, Jesus answered Satan with the Word of God. In this way, He used what Ephesians 6:17 calls the “sword of the Spirit.”
Christ’s Earthly Ministry
During His earthly ministry, Jesus served in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38 says that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,” and that He went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. John 3:34 says that God gave the Spirit to Him without measure. Jesus Himself declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me” (Luke 4:18–19). Every word, act, and miracle in His ministry showed the power of the Holy Spirit working through Him.
Christ’s Death
Jesus freely laid down His life in obedience to the Father, and He did so through the power of the Spirit. Hebrews 9:14 says that Christ “through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God.” Even at the cross, the Holy Spirit was active. This reminds us that the death of Jesus was not only an act of sacrifice, but also a work carried out in full obedience to the Father through the Spirit.
Christ’s Resurrection
After three days, Jesus rose from the dead, and the Holy Spirit had an active part in that victory. Romans 8:11 says that the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit who brought life back into Christ’s earthly body is the One who gives life to God’s people. Christ’s resurrection shows the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit in a clear and glorious way.
Christ’s Ascension
Before Jesus ascended to the Father, He spoke again about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He had already promised His disciples that the Father would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would teach them and remind them of His words (John 14:26). Then, before His ascension, He told them, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). In this way, Jesus prepared His followers for the next stage of God’s work through the Spirit.
Conclusion
Every part of the life and ministry of Christ was influenced and anointed by the Holy Spirit. From His early years to His ascension, we can see how closely the Spirit was involved with Jesus. If God’s own Son lived and ministered in dependence on the Holy Spirit, then how much more do we need the Spirit’s presence, help, and power in our own lives? This truth should move us to seek God more deeply, trust Him more fully, and depend on the Holy Spirit each day.
Lord, thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. Help us to know You better, trust You more, and follow Jesus each day. Amen.
Minister A Francine Green I May 2026