The prophet Zechariah who predicted the coming of the Messiah had night visions. An angel came to him and said (Zechariah 4:6):

“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’” says the Lord Almighty.”

The Messiah’s unwavering reliance on the Holy Spirit is truly remarkable. This is another example how the Trinity – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are submitted to one another. Their relationship is sealed with a trust that cannot be broken. Jesus went wherever the Spirit led Him, and because He blindly banked on His leadership, Jesus has forever changed our world.

One day the Lord asked His disciples: “Who do you say I am?” the apostle Peter famously answered: “You are God’s Anointed, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then made the following statement (Matthew 16:17):

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.’”

It is the privilege of the Holy Spirit to disclose Jesus to the world. Peter openly acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of God, to which the Lord replied (Matthew 16:18):

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then the Spirit of God has revealed it to us. We have this experience in common with Peter. And everybody who believes that Jesus is the Son of God becomes part of the movement the Lord calls “church”. On a side note, the church Christ talks about has little to do with buildings and denominations, but has everything to do with people led by the Holy Spirit, also called the body of Christ.

Whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we do it in the name of Jesus when we follow God’s Spirit. His Spirit authenticates our faith. The reason why the Jesus-movement is still relevant today lies in its authenticity. God endorses it, His Spirit proclaims it, and open hearts receive it.