Messiah and the Holy Spirit
By Randy J. Harvey, PhD, JD, MA
Question. What does Scripture teach about (1) the Messiah/Jesus being anointed (or “baptized”) in the Holy Spirit, and (2) the Messiah/Jesus as the One who baptizes in and gives the Holy Spirit?
Answer. In the King James Bible, the Messiah is presented both as the Spirit-anointed Servant-King and as the exalted Lord who pours out the Spirit on his people. Jesus receives the Spirit in his incarnate mission, and he also gives the Spirit to unite, empower, and renew those who belong to him.¹
1) Messiah/Jesus anointed (“baptized”) in the Holy Spirit
In the Old Testament, God promises that his coming King and Servant will be marked out and empowered by the Spirit. In the Gospels, that promise is shown publicly when the Spirit descends upon Jesus at his baptism, and Jesus begins his ministry “in the power of the Spirit.”
Isaiah 11:2 (KJV): “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”
Isaiah 42:1 (KJV): “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
Isaiah 61:1 (KJV): “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
Matthew 3:16 (KJV): “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
Mark 1:10 (KJV): “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”
Luke 3:22 (KJV): “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
John 1:32–33 (KJV): “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 4:18 (KJV): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”
Acts 10:38 (KJV): “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
What this means: Jesus’ Spirit-anointing does not make him less than God. Rather, it shows the true humanity of the incarnate Son, who carries out the Father’s saving mission in the power of the Spirit. The Messiah is the Spirit-bearing One, perfectly equipped to proclaim good news, defeat evil, and bring God’s kingdom to the nations.
2) Messiah/Jesus as the One who baptizes in and gives the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist draws a sharp contrast: he baptizes with water, but the Coming One will baptize “with the Holy Ghost.” This points to Jesus’ unique authority to apply salvation and to immerse his people into a new life empowered by the Spirit. After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, he sends the promised Spirit to the church.
A) Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 3:11 (KJV): “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
Mark 1:8 (KJV): “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 3:16 (KJV): “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”
Acts 1:5 (KJV): “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Acts 11:16 (KJV): “Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”
What this means: the “baptism with the Holy Ghost” is not merely a symbol. It is God’s promised gift, given through Jesus, by which believers are brought into the new-covenant life and empowered for witness and holy living.
B) Jesus gives and sends the Spirit.
John 7:38–39 (KJV): “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
John 14:16–17 (KJV): “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
John 14:26 (KJV): “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 15:26 (KJV): “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
John 16:7 (KJV): “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
John 20:22 (KJV): “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
Luke 24:49 (KJV): “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Acts 2:33 (KJV): “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
Titus 3:6 (KJV): “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”
Galatians 3:14 (KJV): “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
What this means: the Spirit is given by the Father and sent through the Son. Jesus’ “glorification” (his saving work completed and his exaltation) is the turning point: the risen Lord pours out the Spirit so that believers may live in communion with God, grow in holiness, and bear witness to Christ.
C) Old Testament “pouring out” promises fulfilled through Jesus.
Isaiah 44:3 (KJV): “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
Ezekiel 36:27 (KJV): “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
Joel 2:28–29 (KJV): “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
Taken together, these passages show a single storyline: the Spirit rests upon the Messiah, and then the Messiah shares the Spirit with his people so that God’s promises of renewal and worldwide blessing are fulfilled.
Key takeaways
· Jesus is the Spirit-anointed Messiah promised in the prophets.
· John’s testimony shows that Jesus uniquely “baptizes with the Holy Ghost.”
· Jesus gives the Spirit after his saving work is accomplished and he is exalted.
· Receiving the Spirit is a central blessing of the new covenant and comes “through Jesus Christ.”
Notes
¹ The Holy Bible, King James Version (public domain). Scripture quotations are from the KJV.
