Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit by inward impressions. For example, Marl’s Gospel describes what happened directly after Jesus was baptized in the Holy Spirit following His baptism by John:
And immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12, emphasis added).
Jesus didn’t hear an audible voice or see a vision that led Him into the wilderness—He was simply impelled to go. That is how the Holy Spirit normally leads us. We will sense a drawing, a leading, a conviction, within us to do a certain thing.
When Jesus told the paralyzed man who had been lowered through the roof that his sins were forgiven, Jesus knew that the scribes who were present thought He was blaspheming. How did He know what they were thinking? We read in Mark’s gospel:
And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8, emphasis added).
Jesus perceived in His spirit what they were thinking. If we will be sensitive to our spirits, we too can know how to answer those who oppose the work of God.
