Luke 2:25 –
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.
Traditionally people look at Chapter 2 and pull Jesus’ birth or him teaching in the temple at 12 years old. I could talk about Angels talking to the shepherds and them acting. I could have pointed how Mary and Joseph were frantic for three days looking for their 12 year old or how he was listening and asking questions in the temple. But this really caught my eye because of the Holy Spirit talking to Simeon.
For some reason we tend to believe that the Holy Spirit did not make His way until after the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the followers of Christ. Interestingly Pentecost is also a Jewish celebration also called Shavu’ot. Anyway, I have always wondered what the significance of the Pentecost was since there are many Old Testament references to people being led by the Holy Spirit. Was it that the Holy Spirit was now available to Gentiles as well as Jews?
It’s easy to have difficulty with God and Jesus being one, but the Holy Spirit is an easy one. In reality this has always been with us and is easy to see as God. Have you ever wondered why they mention the Holy Spirit and not God? That has never been real clear with me since although they are referenced differently they are the same. I think it’s more because we try to put God in a box and try to apply human attributes to Him. The only time He was in a “box” was when He came to earth as Jesus! Don’t limit God by your perceptions of Him having human qualities!