Question

In Mark 13:32, it says, "Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." My question, Why did Jesus not say the Holy Spirit would know or not know?  I have heard it explained that Jesus emptied Himself (Kenosis passage in Philippians) and that is why He did not know in His human body.  But I don't understand why the Holy Spirit would not know?

Answer

Your question is a very good one, and one that I had never considered before.  It is simple to understand that no human would know, and that angels might not know, since we see other places where they "long to understand" exactly what is happening with the whole salvation plan.  

Now for Jesus not to know is a little tougher, because He is God, yet we see that He lowered Himself and became a man, and voluntarily gave up the use of certain powers.  For example, when Jesus was about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He stated, that if He wanted to, He could of simply asked His Father, and at once the Father would put at His disposal more than twelve legions of angels?  So Jesus had the divine power available but chose to give it up at times and only do what the Father and the Holy Spirit directed.  So, because of this we can see how for the time being (while He was on earth) He gave up knowledge of the time of His second coming.    

However, Jesus said no one knew except the Father.  I personally do not think that Jesus meant that the Holy Spirit did not know.  For His purposes of responding to the disciples, and the way they may have viewed His ministry they may have only been concerned about themselves, angels and the Father.  The disciples, I believe, did not quite understand the full working of the Holy Spirit.   Now, I base my opinion that the Holy Spirit knew and knows the date of the second coming because:  

1.  There was no reason for Him not to know.  The Holy Spirit is God Almighty, and He knows everything at all times.  Therefore, there is no reason for Him to give up that knowledge.  Only Jesus became a man, and emptied Himself. 

2.  The Holy Spirit is seen many places in Scripture with foreknowledge of future events and is orchestrating everything to the end: Here are just a few verses:    

"It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ."  [Luke 2:26]    

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert" [for a rendezvous with Satan] [Luke 4:1]    

"for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."  [Luke 12:12]    

"until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen."  [Acts 1:2]--Holy Spirit still leading Jesus on what to say to the Apostles.    

"and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus" -  [Acts 1:16]--Holy Spirit speaking future events..............    

"The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus."  [Acts 13:4]    

The Holy Spirit continues to this day to lead all of us and world events to that great day when Jesus will return--yes I believe that the Holy Spirit knew.    

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986