Cees en Anneke Noordzij — Pneumatology
b5 — Putting Your Hand to the Plow
The Number 50 as the Biblical Number of the Holy Spirit
At the feeding of the multitude, Jesus had the crowd sit down in groups of fifty (Luke 9:14). Noordzij connects this number directly to the Spirit:
Have the people sit down ‘in groups of fifty’ (Luke 9:14). Fifty is the biblical number of the Holy Spirit. He feeds us when we sit down. — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: The number 50 is for Noordzij a biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. Sitting down — coming to rest — is the prerequisite for spiritual nourishment by the Spirit.
The Double Portion of the Spirit — Gift of the Spirit
Before Elijah was taken up, Elisha asked: “Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2Kgs. 2:9). Elijah answered that this would be granted if Elisha saw him being taken away. Noordzij connects this to Jesus’ promise in John 14:12:
By the double portion of the spirit that was on Elijah, he would perform twice as many miraculous signs as Elijah. This parallels what Jesus says to his own: ‘Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father’ (John 14:12). — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: The double portion of the spirit (2Kgs. 2:9) is a type of the greater works made possible by the Spirit in those who follow Jesus (John 14:12). The Spirit as the power for miraculous signs.
Anointing by the Spirit for Royal Priesthood
Whoever is called to royal priesthood must ask the Father to consecrate, sanctify, and anoint them:
Therefore, everyone who knows they are called to royal priesthood must put their hand to the plow and ask the Father to consecrate, sanctify, and anoint them with His Spirit. Then, when they clothe themselves in ‘linen’ (= rest), they may stand before Him to serve Him (Deut. 10:8). — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: Anointing, sanctification, and consecration by the Spirit are the three elements of the priestly calling. The linen garment (rest) stands in contrast to outward activism. The Spirit is the agent of consecration.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
For Noordzij, rest and stillness before God are the foundation of true worship:
Therefore God seeks ‘true worshipers who will worship him in spirit and truth’ (John 4:23). He seeks servants who want to serve him in the heavenly temple, in his house. — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: Worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23) is connected to heavenly service — standing before God’s face in rest, not outward activity.
Becoming One Spirit with the Lord
The fruit of following Christ is a growing union with him in the Spirit:
He becomes more and more one spirit with the Lord (1Cor. 6:17). — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: “One spirit with the Lord” (1Cor. 6:17) is for Noordzij a gradual, growing process — the result of being freed from human opinions and increasing conformity with Christ.
Spirit and Life — Words of the Spirit
Jesus spoke words of spiritual power that caused Mary of Bethany to sit at his feet:
But then Jesus began to speak ‘words of spirit and life’, ‘words of eternal life’ (John 6:63, 68). She then had to choose: either continue serving the guests, or sit down with him. — Noordzij, Putting Your Hand to the Plow
Interpretation: Words of spirit and life (John 6:63) function as spiritual food that causes hearers to stop and sit at Jesus’ feet — parallel to the crowds sitting in groups of fifty.