Gentle and Lowly, Chapter 13 - “Why the Spirit?”

This reflection is by Visio Dei lead pastor Tony Boes.

“You need a personal relationship with Jesus.”

 As I was introduced to the faith in my early teens, I heard that statement repeated by pastors, Sunday School teachers, radio DJ’s, and more. The idea of “personal relationship” was emphasized in the Evangelical subculture of the 90’s, but the reply of my skeptical heart was, “right… but how does that work?”

Relationships require communication. Intimate relationships require warm, affectionate communication. How is someone supposed to have that kind of experience with God? What if I can’t hear or feel anything as I pray into the air? Can a relationship be “personal” if it feels one-sided?

 Gentle and Lowly teaches us that Jesus is warm towards his people—that he loves, cherishes, and pursues us—even though we are sinful. Chapter 13 focuses on how we experience Jesus’ heart toward us, even though he is not physically present. Drawing from John 16, Dane Ortlund reminds us of Jesus’ promised sending of the Holy Spirit.

 In John 16:7, Jesus makes the following statement: “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” His statement is clear—it is better for his disciples to have the presence of the Holy Spirit, than for him to be physically accessible.

 In calling the Spirit the Helper (or comforter in some translations), Jesus communicates that his ascension into heaven will not diminish the warmth of his love towards the disciples. Instead, the Spirit would bring joy to the disciples (John 16:22). Christians first experience this joy through the Spirit’s work of regeneration—when God opens our eyes to his truth and calls us into a relationship with him. We continue to experience it as the Holy Spirit changes us and reminds us of the love and forgiveness we have in Christ.

 We do need a personal relationship with Jesus. That relationship is experienced through the work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, our relationship with God would feel decidedly one-sided. We should do all we can to walk in the Spirit, avoid grieving him (Ephesians 4:30),  and cultivate a heart that is open to his inward ministry.

 The invitation to have a personal relationship with Jesus deserves continued emphasis. We should add to this emphasis a call to recognize, appreciate, and invite the work of the Holy Spirit to make our experience of that relationship something powerfully tangible.