“The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.” (1 Peter 1:10-11 NIV)
The Lord Jesus entered our world about 2,000 years ago. But many centuries before that, His coming was foretold by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave people glimpses of God’s plan of salvation and of “the grace” of which Peter speaks so passionately.
The Holy Spirit did not immediately provide a detailed overview of what would happen and exactly when. That remained a mystery for a long time. Even to angels, it is partly a secret (see 1 Peter 1:12). But the Spirit did reveal bits and pieces of information that offered people hope for the future and encouraged them to keep believing. As all those pieces came together, the outline of God’s plan of salvation became increasingly clear.
We are privileged because we know so much more about Jesus’ ministry. When He was on earth, He made God’s will known to the people. Eyewitnesses watched Him die on a cross, be buried, and rise again from the dead. The Holy Spirit inspired them to spread this message—both orally and in written form, in the Bible. And still today, the Spirit continues to acquaint people with the Gospel.
Why do you think the Holy Spirit considers it so important for people to hear about Jesus? How has this made a difference in your life?