I know that Jesus received the Holy Spirit when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Did Jesus have the indwelling of The Holy Spirit as a child prior to being baptized?
Let’s look at a couple of verses that speak to us of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 1:19 says, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. Colossians 2:9 tells us, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” We have no doubt that while the Lord Jesus was on the earth, the entire Godhead dwelt within Him. But was it that way from birth, from His youth, or from His baptism by John the Baptism? The scripture is rather quiet about this, but I do believe we can gather from the scriptures that it was from birth that Christ was indwelt with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
We read of an incident when the Lord Jesus was twelve years old in Luke 2:41-52. Verses 46-47 tell us, “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” At this tender age, the Lord already exhibited unhuman understanding and knowledge as He dealt with these ‘doctors’ or teachers. It was said of Him in verse 40, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” I believe we can safely attest this growth, strength, wisdom, and understanding to the presence of the Holy Spirit in His life. We read of the Lord Jesus in Isaiah 11:1-2, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” I believe that from His birth, the ‘fulness of the Godhead’ dwelt in the Lord bodily. Even at this young age, this wisdom and understanding was evidenced in Him.
A proclamation was made concerning John the Baptist in Luke 1:15, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and HE SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, EVEN FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.” Of course, John was the forerunner of Christ, announcing Him to the world. I cannot fathom the thought that John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit before the Lord Jesus! Could the forerunner be endowed with more power and knowledge that the Lord Jesus, Himself? I do not believe he could. John said of the Lord Jesus in John 1:30, “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.” He understood the greatness of the Lord Jesus and understood that the Lord was much greater than he.
In Matthew 3:13-17, we have the account of John the Baptist baptizing the Lord Jesus in the River Jordan. That says, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Many believe that this is the time when the Lord Jesus was first indwelt by the Holy Spirit. However, I believe it was then, for the first time, that the Spirit was physically seen descending on Him in the form of a dove. Not that He had not been indwelt with the Spirit beforehand, but so that now He might be consecrated by this solemn ceremony. The visible descent of the Spirit from heaven to rest on the Lord Jesus was a sign that showed he was the Messiah.
John points out that the experience of seeing the Spirit coming upon the Lord Jesus in the form of a dove was proof that this Jesus was indeed the Christ. We read in John 1:32-33, “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”
So, while the scriptures do not directly tell us when the Lord Jesus received the Holy Spirit, I do believe there is enough scriptural evidence to show us that the Lord Jesus was indwelt with the Spirit from birth. (486.2)