Giving up His Spirit

 

"So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit." - John 19:30

“It is finished.”  The plan of redemption was completed at this point.  Jesus had suffered and died at the hands of those He came to save, just as God had planned it before the earth was formed.

Then Jesus gave up His Spirit - the Holy Spirit which had descended from Heaven and rested on Him from the point of His baptism by John.  John tells of the prophecy he had received about the Holy Spirit in John 1:32-33, saying: “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

Jesus had to give up His Spirit in order to do what He had to do in those three days before the resurrection (Ephesians 4:8-10,1 Peter 4:6).  He had already promised His Spirit to those that needed Him most – believers.  By giving His Spirit, He was no longer contained in a single body in a single location.  The Holy Spirit is now our gift, given freely, to allow us to be in Him by Him being in us. 

In John 14:19-20, speaking to His disciples, Jesus says “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.  At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Jesus goes on to say in verses 26-27, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

His Spirit is the bond of peace within the Body of Christ, all believers.  It is not a peace that can be compared to the world’s view of peace.  His peace lingers, and rests in us.  His Holy Spirit continually connects us to Him.  He abides in us, and allows us to abide in Him.