Help and Strength   

Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” My Bible has a footnote that says it means that He “laid aside His privileges.” He became like us in all our humanity.
But, as a man, Jesus would need some help if He was going to do and be all that His Father desired. He needed to be the Rabbi who would so capably share words of truth with the vast crowds that followed Him. He needed to be the Physician who would look upon the helpless with great compassion and heal them. And Jesus needed to be the Savior who would give His body, His blood, indeed His very life as He bore the sins of all mankind on that terrible cross.
As a mere human, having laid aside all His divine privileges, Jesus could not do all these things that God had called Him to do. But He would receive help. God the Father provided divine help from His Holy Spirit so His Son could fulfill His role and His mission in this world.
God’s Holy Spirit was involved in every aspect of Jesus’ life. The Spirit helped prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 1:11-17). The Spirit was an integral part in the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-21). The Spirit was there for the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). The Spirit gave help and strength during the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). The Spirit gave help and strength during the public ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:14). The Spirit was there for the suffering and the death of Jesus (Hebrews 9:14). And the Spirit was responsible for the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 8:11).
We as Christians need help just as Jesus needed help. And just like Jesus, we too are given God’s Holy Spirit to give us help and strength to do and be all that our Father desires.

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