In last week’s reflection, I shared thoughts about seeing the wind’s effects on Lake Ontario. Though we can’t see the wind, we see its effects and how it is under God’s command. Biblically, the wind, when positively portrayed, is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
While reflecting on the wind, I couldn’t help but think about two main Scripture references related to the word breath. Just like the wind, one cannot usually see breath, yet God used it powerfully for His purposes.
What does Scripture tell us about breath?
Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. –Genesis 2:7 (NLT)
God decided to create man in His image to rule over all the creatures He made to roam this world. To do this, God, like a potter, formed man from the dust of the ground. The way God brought man to life was to breathe His very breath of life into man’s nostrils! We as humans, are made in God’s image, and have the Spirit of God breathed into us. What a powerful thought to see God’s goodness.
Photo courtesy of Sapphire Dream Photography under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” –John 20:19-23 (ESV)
This powerful encounter was the first time the resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples. They were hiding, afraid of what happened to Jesus, and fearing for their lives. The first thing that Jesus wanted to impart to the disciples was peace. He didn’t want them to be afraid, but to have the peace that surpasses all understanding. His message was one of sending them into the world to preach the Good News of Jesus to all, along with the need to forgive one another.
Jesus breathing on the disciples was a breath of fresh air in their lives, which brought forth the Holy Spirit in a new, even more powerful way. No longer were they fearful, but they were filled with courage, wisdom, knowledge, and the power to heal.
Photo courtesy of Baptist Union of Great Britain under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
We are all on this journey of life together. Just as Jesus was on the journey with His disciples, we need to remember, too, that Jesus is always with us every step of the way. As disciples of Jesus, we have the breath of God breathed into our nostrils and Jesus’ breath of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We have the power to live in the Spirit being courageous disciples.
When the winds of life come with gale-force strength, we need to hold onto Jesus, our anchor. Relief comes through faith.
Be encouraged to experience and know that…
…God is breathing His breath of life into you daily.
…Jesus is breathing the Holy Spirit afresh on you giving new life to your Spirit.
…the Holy Spirit in you dispels fear and fills you with courage.
…your breath of life is like the wind as you share the Holy Spirit that is in you.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” –John 3:8 (NIV)
