Day 39 – Holy Spirit With Us
JOHN 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:19-23).
After Jesus died and was entombed, His body disappeared. The disciples continued to gather together to pray, but none were prepared for an actual appearance of their Lord. Jesus not only appeared to them, but also showed them the places where His body had been pierced. He spoke and bid them, “Peace be with you.” Then He breathed on them and imparted the gift of the Holy Spirit. Resurrection power!
Reflection
- How would you have responded in the upper room that night?
- How significant is it that Jesus returned in bodily form?
- What does receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit mean to you personally?
HAGGAI 2:4-9
“But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And My Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord Almighty. “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord Almighty. “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:4-9).
In the Book of Haggai, we see a preview of God’s desire that His Spirit remain with His children. This book was written while the temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt. Although this temple was not as magnificent as the original temple constructed by Solomon, God promised that this latter temple would exhibit even more of His glory than the first. God determined that His Spirit would remain with His people.
Reflection
- How does this latter temple relate to the temple of our human bodies? (See First Corinthians 6:19.)
- Has it always been God’s plan that His Spirit would remain?
- What difference does the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit make for us?
