This is a difficult thought to wrap our minds around, but Jesus limited His divine prerogatives when he became a man because he sought to identify himself with the human race. He was born into this world as a human being, advanced or grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), and was baptized, at which time the Holy Spirit descends upon him (Luke 3:22) and the Father declares that he is well pleased with Him. He learns obedience (Hebrews 5:7-9) and submission by emptying himself (Phil. 2:7) and subjecting himself to suffering. It is not clear if he had the power of deity before the Spirit’s descent or if he voluntarily suppressed the full powers of deity due to His humanity, until which time the Spirit descended upon Him. If he had the power of deity before His baptism, then, why would he need the Holy Spirit without measure? Not having the power and glory of deity does not negate his person as the pre-existent Word. It only demonstrates the degree to which He subjected himself to becoming a man. But, the Father, being well-pleased, gives Him the full power of the Spirit or as the text reads, “without measure.” He is deserving of it as it fits His person.
What is clear is that he subjects himself to identify with the human race to become our merciful and faithful high priest. After His baptism, he is immediately driven by the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil. He was tempted in all points like as we are and can sympathize with us (Heb. 4:15). It appears from the evidence that of all people, the man, Jesus of Nazareth, would not be exempt from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the end of the age.
By the time Jesus begins his work, he is described as being “full of the Holy Spirit” and was “anointed with the Holy Spirit”. Consider the following passages that describe the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of Jesus. Luke 4:1, 14 reads,
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the Devil……. And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
Luke 4:16-19 reads,
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit Of The Lord Is Upon Me Because He Anointed Me To Preach The Gospel To The Poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’ (Compare Isa. 11:2)
Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1-2 and applies it to himself saying, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” In the Old Testament, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon someone, they were under the guiding influence and power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Judges 3:10; 6:24; 11:29; et. al.).
In verse 36, the people report with amazement, “with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” Peter explains in Acts 10:38,
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
John 3:34 tells us that Jesus, whom the Father sent, speaks the words of God, “for He gives the Spirit without measure.” While it seems that in subjugating Himself and emptying himself to become a human being, God gives him the full powers of Deity at the time of His showing to Israel.