We are told Jesus was 'filled with the spirit'.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1
This is odd if he is God. Either he is God or he is not. The bizarre concept of him 'emptying himself' of being God is beyond belief or logic and certainly beyond the text. Seeing as we are never told he was God, then we must look for some reasons why he is receiving the spirit. Because with God, there is always a reason!
If we take this verse as truth, then we have a clue.
he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God Heb 2:17
There is not a chance that Jesus can be made like us if he is God!
in every way, in all things, like unto his brethren, like His brothers - as other versions put it. (does God have brothers or brethren?)
And then this,
"Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing John 5:19
I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 5:30
There's a huge clue. Jesus seeks not his own will (how can he be God and have another will?) but the Father's. How does he seek God's will, how does he deny temptation - every time, how does he learn obedience??? By being at one with God, having God's spirit dwelling in him. Not as a gift or deposit like most other men - Jesus was filled up! Luke 4:1
He says through Luke 10:22
No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son
That's how close they were. That's how reliant Jesus was on God for his success because only God, through His spirit in Jesus, could avert disaster.
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Heb 5:7
No, receiving the spirit wasn't just for show. Certainly that was a benefit for those who witnessed this event, but Jesus depended on it to stay alive, sinless and holy, till his last breath. Jesus had no power inherently - he had no opportunity to wield his own power - for he had none. Every time he needed, God provided.
but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works John 14:10 John 5:30 again
Jesus said he was a man (John 8:40) that's all he said he was as the son of God. How could a man do what he did without the holy spirit providing his every need of truth, love, wisdom, passion, humility, obedience, patience, looong-suffering? Acts 2:22, 17:31, 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus needed the holy spirit to fulfil his mission. He needed this presence of God to fight the evil forces, beginning it seems, with his temptation. Without this life force of good within him, we would have failed day 1!
