Week 6: The Holy Spirit in John's Gospel
The Trinity is something I’ve always found difficult—frustrating, even. I remember sitting in lessons thinking, “God is one, but also three? Are they taking us for fools?” 😅
I had a decent grasp of God the Creator, and of Jesus too. But the Spirit? That always felt like the part that flew over my head.
My early experience of the Spirit was shaped largely by charismatic expressions—loud, fiery moments often rooted in Acts 2:
“There came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them... All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 2:2–4)
This passage echoes many earlier moments in Scripture—God leading the Israelites through the wilderness by cloud and fire, or appearing in smoke and wind on the mountain.
But I’ll be honest: for me, the topic of tongues was a real barrier. I’m sure many of us have sat in spaces where people began “speaking in tongues” and you quietly wondered, Really?
Now don’t get me wrong—I’m not here to knock anyone’s experience. I’m just naming what was hard for me.
What changed everything was the way the Spirit is portrayed in the Gospel of John.
When Jesus introduces the Spirit, He says:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16)
Suddenly, I could encounter the Holy Spirit not only as power and spectacle, but also through intimacy, truth, presence, and peace.
And that shifted everything.
Themes in John’s Gospel that Shape Our Understanding:
The Spirit as “Another Paraclete” (14:16): Suggests Jesus was the first Advocate.
The Spirit dwells within (14:17): Not external force, but inner presence.
Teacher and Reminder (14:26): The Spirit helps us remember and understand.
Witness and Conviction (15:26, 16:8): Speaks truth, reveals injustice and righteousness.
Presence through Absence (16:7): Jesus leaves so that the Spirit may come.
If any of this resonates with you, then this week may be particularly meaningful. We’ll trace the Spirit in John—from presence to mission.
And in the process, we’ll reflect on what it means to be people upon whom the Spirit dwells and remains.
🧩 The Journey This Week: The Spirit in John
Spirit Marks and Rests (Identity) – John 1:32–34
Spirit Transforms and Reveals (New Birth, Worship) – John 3:5–8, 3:34; 4:23–24
Spirit Gives Life and Nourishes (Inner Spring) – John 6:63; 7:37–39
Spirit Dwells, Teaches, Comforts (Presence) – John 14:15–31
Spirit Convicts and Testifies (Truth and Mission) – John 15:26–16:15
Spirit Commissions and Sends (Breath and Peace) – John 20:19–23
John 1:29-34 | The Spirit Descends And Remains
Artwork: The Baptism of the Christ by Daniel Bonnell
The Spirit Who Remains: Seeing, Believing, Testifying
There are moments in Scripture where something shifts—where the heavens open, the Spirit descends, and suddenly everything is illuminated.
John 1:29–34 is one of those moments.
John the Baptiser sees Jesus coming towards him and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
This declaration is more than a prophetic title—it’s a recognition, a revelation. John is witnessing something not just with his eyes, but with his spirit.
This is the Lamb. This is the One.
And it’s the presence of the Holy Spirit that confirms it.
“I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.”
(John 1:32)
Let’s step back and explore what this passage tells us about seeing, the Spirit, and what it means to testify.
Come and See: The Movement of Testimony
John’s Gospel is filled with invitations to come and see. It's not about blind faith—it’s about noticing, beholding, witnessing.
🧭 See → Believe → Testify
John sees Jesus.
He sees the Spirit descend and remain.
And then, he testifies to what he has seen.
“I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”
(John 1:34)
To testify in this sense isn’t about recounting a dramatic life story—it’s about naming what we’ve seen. Where have we noticed God? Where has the Spirit remained?
John’s example challenges us to be attentive: What are we seeing in our everyday lives that reveals God’s presence?
The Spirit Who Descends and Remains
One of the most striking aspects of this passage is that the Spirit not only descends—but remains.
🕊️ In the Old Testament, the Spirit often comes and goes, resting on kings or prophets for specific moments. But here, with Jesus, the Spirit remains—signifying something new.
“He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit.”
(John 1:33)
This is a turning point. Jesus is not just anointed by the Spirit; He is the One who will give the Spirit.
Water and Spirit: A Holy Partnership
John says he baptises with water so that the One might be revealed. But Jesus? He baptises with the Holy Spirit.
This echo between water and Spirit runs deep in Scripture:
💧 Isaiah 44:3 – “I will pour water on the thirsty land… I will pour my Spirit upon your descendants.”
🌿 Isaiah 32:15 – “Until the Spirit is poured out from on high… and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field.”
🌱 Genesis 2:6–7 – “A stream would rise from the earth and water the whole face of the ground—then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
From the beginning, water and Spirit are God’s agents of renewal, creation, and life.
So when John sees the Spirit descend like a dove and remain, it’s a fulfilment of those ancient promises—and a sign that Jesus is the one who will bring this renewal.
Jesus, the Giver of the Spirit
This moment doesn’t just look back—it looks forward.
🕊️ After His resurrection, Jesus breathes on His disciples and says,
“Receive the Holy Spirit”(John 20:22).
🔥 In Acts 2, the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost.
The disciples are anointed—not just to feel spiritual—but to carry on Jesus’s mission.
This is what it means that Jesus baptises with the Spirit:
He empowers His followers to be His body in the world.
Reflection: Seeing and Saying
John teaches us a rhythm:
👁️ See Jesus
🙏 Recognise the Spirit
🗣️ Testify to what we’ve seen
This isn’t just ancient history—it’s our call today.
Where are we seeing the Spirit move?
Where are we noticing Jesus show up in our world?
Testifying is telling the truth about what we’ve seen. It’s our way of joining the chorus of those who say,
“Behold the Lamb of God.”
✅ Reflection Questions:
What are the places in your life where you’ve noticed God’s presence lately?
How can you practise “seeing” with spiritual eyes today?
What would it look like to testify—not with a microphone, but with your life?
🙏 Closing Prayer
“Jesus, help me to see You. Open my eyes to the quiet ways Your Spirit is moving in my life. Teach me to recognise Your presence and to testify with joy and courage. May I be someone who not only sees, but also believes—and tells the world what I’ve seen. Amen.”