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The Holy Spirit’s Actions in the Birth Narratives 23/12/2020
Derrick Harrison 23/12/2020
The Holy Spirit’s Actions in 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. God is honoured when our character is consistent and 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 God by initiative and 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 about a New Life Radio – Talk No 11
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thousand miles, perhaps a year before the angel visitations. What had they read in the ancient manuscripts that had alerted them to the significance of the star which had appeared in the eastern sky? 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. 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 and expectation. 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 serving to strengthen their resolve. Imagine their joy when the 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. 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, the incense rises, swirling around him, enveloping him in a fine fragrant mist, veiling him from the sight of God lest he die. This was the imagery reminiscent of the Day of Atonement, the one Day in the Jewish religious calendar when the High-Priest entered the Holy of Holies to New Life Radio – Talk No 11
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sprinkle the mercy seat with drops of blood from a sacrificial lamb. The day of actual atonement was so near at hand, a day which will soon to be heralded by John, the promised son of Zachariah and then executed by his cousin Jesus on the cross. The angel is suddenly standing at the 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 who was barren and now the angel announces the birth of a son to Elizabeth who is barren like Sarah. I have purposely 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 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 phenomenon) in which He comes upon each individual one by one; Luke describes this phenomenon as being “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The occasions when the Holy Spirit comes upon each person in the birth narratives
the unborn baby John is filled with the Spirit and leapt in the womb of Elizabeth when he heard the greeting of Mary, this results in Elizabeth being filled with the Spirit, she sings prophetically in the Spirit to Mary),
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“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).
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 a child.
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.1:67-68).
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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 looked at the conception of Jesus elsewhere in my notes – 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 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
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own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (vv34-35).
Anna speaks prophecy; 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).
Identify angel visitations (personal/group) - angels work in conjunction with the Spirit’s actions, the following refer to personal visitations, but note the visitation to the shepherds.
The annunciation to Zechariah before the altar in the temple “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
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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).
The annunciation to Joseph “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 Mary “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.”
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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.” 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 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. 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
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people – a simple virgin teenage girl, a poor widow woman, a carpenter, shepherds, a village priest and his barren wife, - these are the people God chooses to engage with Him in His great plan for the families of the earth. 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 asks 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 womb/body to God and in her womb was instantly conceived the Son of God. God begets His Son in us and so we through our bodies, our personality/nature we manifest the risen and glorified Christ to the world.
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