Notice that this text is speaking about Jesus the Christ:
John 3:34 (NKJV)
34 For He WHOM GOD HAS SENT speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
“He whom God has sent” in the text is Jesus, the Promised Seed (Gen 3:15). It is to HIM that the Spirit wasn’t given in a measure.
The Old Testament Prophets only functioned in portions of the Spirit’s graces (see 2 Kings 2:9). Oftentimes, the Spirit of God would “lift” from them once they had performed the duties their office required.
However, unlike the prophets of the Old, He functioned FULLY in ALL the power and gifts of God—He walked in the anointing of God’s Spirit completely.
This He did, in fulfillment of Isaiah 11:2, “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.”
He received the FULLNESS of God’s Spirit at His baptism, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING like a dove and alighting UPON HIM. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)
The Apostle Peter, in Acts 10:38 describes how, “…God ANOINTED Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
This anointing began from His baptism at the River Jordan and continued onward. Announcing the start of His earthly ministry, Jesus affirms this by saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is UPON ME, because He has ANOINTED ME to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Thus, it was to JESUS that God didn’t give His Spirit in measure (John 3:34). This refers to how He functioned in His earthly ministry.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2022.
