Justified in the Spirit

Now, this afternoon we want to think together about the phrase, “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit”. What do these words, “justified in the Spirit” mean? If we have been born again I think that we should easily be able to understand “the Spirit” here, as being the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, when He came to earth, He appeared in all the infirmity and frailty of mortal flesh. He was poor, and despised, and persecuted, and finally He was put to death as a blasphemer; yet He professed and maintained a high claim; the highest possible claim, even that of being the Messiah, the Son of God. In making this claim He was largely despised and rejected of men. But even though He was treated so badly by the rulers of Israel, and also by many of His own people who should have received Him, He was vindicated in the Holy Spirit of God’s being with Him at every point of His earthly sojourn.