The Spirit & Life
New life begins with little understanding. Though we cannot explain it, we continue to learn more about it. It is like the wind. It is metaphysically outside of what can be seen or touched. New life is the territory of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus modeled a way of life with the Father to his disciples. He gave them a kingdom that they would proclaim to the ends of the earth. He trained them to establish this kingdom by carrying his authority and pushing Satan’s chaos back with love, with healing, and with truth. God’s kingdom was a “new wine” he was offering to the world. A cup of blessing.
The cup of Christ.
But Jesus knew that as much as his disciples had been trained, had practiced his way, and had listened and obeyed his message, they still needed his resurrection.
Why?
Why is the resurrection of Christ so important? It is important because,
“New wine calls for new wineskins (Mark 2:22b NLT).”
We must be made new to hold this new kingdom.
Now, this is something we cannot do for ourselves. We cannot make ourselves new. No matter how we long to be good, try to be good, loving and holy, no matter how much we practice faithfulness and generousity, we cannot produce good fruit without becoming new ourselves.
This new life began with a breath, much like the breath that brought the first man to life.
“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.
As God breathed into Adam, and he became alive, so Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into us and we come alive.
Jesus did this with his disciples. After his resurrection,
“… he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22 NLT)
Because Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom on the inside, it makes possible a new birth. What was spiritually in bondage and dead to the love of God can be made new, reborn, awakened, brought to life.
Paul the apostle wrote to the church in Ephesus about their wonderful salvation. He tried to describe for them what it meant, layer by layer. His words drew a connection between the Holy Spirit and new life.
“And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.” (Ephesians 1:13b NLT)
Have you ever tried to describe the miracle of new life? Write down a few phrases to put words to this theologically truth. What scriptures are most meaningful for you when you reflect on new life?
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©Kami Nadeen 2026
