SUBJECT:  Jesus Christ

QUESTION:  Did Jesus have the Holy Spirit before baptism?

ANSWER:

Yes, He had it from conception.

We have a few clues.

Isaiah 11:1-5

1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 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;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Isaiah 11 is speaking of the Christ that would come.  We see here that He would have wisdom and understanding.  Seems clear that He had this understanding well before meeting with John the Baptist.

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Luke 2:41-52

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 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.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Note:  We see here that Jesus is showing great wisdom at an early age.  He must have know by this time who He was and what He was doing on earth.  In verse 47, they are astonished at his understanding,  He is not baptized until Luke 3.   It is unthinkable that Jesus would only have the Holy Spirit for a very short period of His life as He was baptized and went directly into the ministry.  Notice what a 12 year old Jesus says...

Luke 2:48-49

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?

behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Note: For Him to know that He was the Christ and that His Father was God he must have had God's Holy Spirit.  The only alternative is that the Spirit of Man which we all receive at birth (if not conception) told Him and that is unthinkable.

Another important point:  John the Baptist was not bestowing the Holy Spirit with his baptizing.  Notice Matthew 3:11...

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Note: There was no laying on of hands.  Notice how Jesus received the Holy Spirit at this point in Matthew's account...

Matthew 3:16-17

16 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:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Note: It seems clear that this miracle was for the sake of the people and not an initial giving of the Spirit of God to Jesus. 

Look at what Christ says earlier...

Matthew 3:13-15

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 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.

Note:  The baptism of John the Baptist as is baptism today is for repentance.  What did Jesus have to repent of?  He never sinned!!  He was doing it to "fulfil all righteousness".  He was also doing it as an example for us for we are to be like Christ.

Additional two points on this question of whether Jesus had God's Holy Spirit:

1) John the Baptist had the Holy Spirit from the womb:

Luke 1:13-15

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

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.

2) Jesus was created in the womb by the Holy Spirit so coupled with the facts about John the Baptist having the Spirit from the womb, clearly Jesus did too.

Matthew 1:18-20

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Note: How could He be conceived of the Holy Spirit and not have the Spirit from the womb like John the Baptist?

Final point:  Besides having the Spirit of God, He was led by the Spirit of God.  Look what happens right after His baptism...

Matthew 4:1

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke 4:14

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.