Biblical Imagery: The Metaphorical Symbols of the Holy Spirit

During the Christmas season we celebrate the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. We celebrate the incarnation and birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world (John 4). Jesus is the Savior and our Savior. In the mysterious moment of Jesus conception in the womb of Mary, God the Son took upon himself human nature. This was a work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1). The Son of God became human in order to reveal God to us and redeem us back to God. Jesus mediates the presence of God because he is God. The incarnation, ministry, death and resurrection are central revelatory activities of God to us. We see the Father as we gaze into the eyes of Jesus. In turn we see the Son in the eyes of the Father. We receive the promises of God because of the work of Jesus, who is God in the flesh. Jesus saves, sanctifies, heals, delivers, and Spirit baptizes us as we await his soon coming return. We know the joy of salvation through the ministry of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a personal relationship with God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Often overlooked is the important ministry of God the Holy Spirit.

God the Father made a very significant promise to his people. The promise was that he would pour out his Spirit upon all who would call upon the name of Jesus (Acts 1 and 2). The gift of the Father is the Holy Spirit! Jesus has ascended unto the Father, but the presence of God remains with us through the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit.

We will begin our biblical investigation of the images of the Holy Spirit with the Gospels. These symbols are also prominent throughout the Bible. The following biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit are connected to the ministry of Jesus. We begin here because Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would continue to work through the ministry of the church. Thus, the church continues the ministry of Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel of Mark we read, “Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove” (Mark 1:10, see also Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:21 and John 1:32). This is the first visible ‘appearance’ of the Holy Spirit in Mark’s Gospel. John the Baptist stated that the descending of the Holy Spirit uponJesus was the sign that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Subsequent to yet inseparable from his water baptism, Jesus experienced his Spirit baptism. John also said that Jesus would baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit (see John 1:32-34). Why? Because the Spirit not only descended upon Jesus but also remained upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit was without measure upon Jesus. As a result, Jesus is the one who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.

The imagery of the soft descent of the dove brings to mind the movement of the Spirit from heaven above to earth below. Jesus is the Spirit-anointed prophet of God who preaches the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ prophetic ministry with signs and wonders is a result of the Son of God being anointed by the Spirit of God in order to carry out the redemptive mission of God. The work comes from God which is symbolized by the descent of the dove from heaven and the testimony of the Father from heaven. After the dove descends upon Jesus, the Father says publicly “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark1:11). Jesus carries out his ministry through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

Tags: Biblical, featured, holy, imagery, metaphorical, spirit, symbols

Category: Spirit, Summer 2011