Jesus Offered Himself Through the Spirit
Month 7: He Is Risen! — Why We Believe · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Hebrews 9:14
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Memory Verse
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Jonah 1–4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 185 of 365 — God's mercy reaches even Nineveh, and even a runaway prophet.)The Heart of It
Here's a sentence we don't often slow down for. Christ "through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God." The cross was not just the Father's plan and the Son's obedience. The whole Trinity was at work. The Holy Spirit was right there, sustaining Jesus as He laid down His life. Every step toward Calvary, every breath in that darkness, Jesus offered up "through the eternal Spirit." This is the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation. He is the same Spirit who came down on Jesus at His baptism. And He was present in the greatest act of love the world has ever seen.
And notice what that sacrifice does for us. His blood will "purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God." That's the goal. Not just forgiveness on paper, but a clean heart and a new power to live. The old animal sacrifices could cover sin for a moment, but they could never change a heart. Jesus' Spirit-empowered offering does both. It washes us completely. And it frees us to serve God with joy. This is why the Spirit-filled life and the cross belong together. We are not cleaned up and then left to try hard on our own. The same Spirit who upheld Jesus at the cross now lives in everyone who trusts Him. He grows His fruit in us and gives us power to serve "the living God."
Around the Table
When Jesus died for us, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all working together. They did it because they love you so much!
Let's do it: Hold up three fingers and say, "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three Persons!" Then bring them together side by side on one hand and say, "and one God!" Keep all three fingers up. Never squish them into one.
Jesus offered Himself "through the eternal Spirit." That means the Holy Spirit was helping Jesus even at the cross. And His blood gives us a clean conscience.
Let's talk: What does it feel like to have a clean heart and know you're truly forgiven?
Hebrews shows the whole Trinity at the cross. And the reason we are cleansed is "to serve the living God." Forgiveness leads to a Spirit-empowered life.
Let's go deeper: How does the same Spirit who upheld Jesus help you serve God today?
💬 Conversation Starter
When your room is finally clean, how does it make you want to keep it that way? When Jesus washes our hearts clean, it makes us want to serve Him.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The Bible always presents one God in three Persons. The three Persons are the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Bible never says there are three gods. And it never says there is one Person wearing three masks. Verses like show all three working in harmony. That is exactly what we'd expect if the Trinity is true.
For Dad · Go Deeper
We tend to file the cross under "Jesus" and the power under "the Spirit." But won't let us separate them. Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit. For the Pentecostal home this matters enormously. The Spirit's work is not an add-on for spiritual thrill-seekers. He is woven into the heart of the gospel itself. The aim, the text says, is a cleansed conscience that frees us "to serve the living God." That means character and mission, never spectacle. Ask yourself honestly: am I leaning on the Spirit's power to serve, or grinding through fatherhood on willpower? The cross that cleansed you also opened the door to a life carried by the same Spirit who carried Christ.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for the cross. Thank You that Jesus gave Himself for us. Thank You that His blood makes our hearts clean. Fill us with Your Spirit. Help us serve You with joy. In Jesus' name, amen."
The Spirit who upheld Jesus at the cross now lives in me. He keeps me clean and gives me power to serve.