Philippians 2:5-8 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” The advent of Jesus into the world and the major change that He permitted to take place within Himself when He came in the form of man are nothing short of amazing and worthy of all honor and glory.

The Amplified Bible says concerning this same scripture passage that Jesus, “Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes, which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8 Amplified Bible). What is being so carefully described is the fact that Jesus, who possessed the “fullness of the attributes of which make God God” emptied Himself of all rightful glory and power in order to come to us as a human being.

This is actually telling us that when Jesus laid aside His mighty power and glory and came to earth, although He was the Son of God, He lived and ministered as a man separate from His status and power as the Son of God. An interesting and important fact is that for the first 30 years of His life, Jesus didn’t heal anyone nor perform any miracles. Actually, He didn’t even begin His public ministry until something important happened to Him at about age 30.

The Bible records what that mighty change was that occurred in Jesus. It happened at the time when John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan River.  Luke 3:21-22 reads, “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus.

Soon after that life changing event an interesting sequence of events took place. Luke 4:1 tells us that, “…Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Notice Jesus was now “filled” with the Holy Spirit and He was “led” by the Spirit of God into the wilderness. It was there that Jesus encountered the devil who laid before Him great temptations which, one by one, Jesus successfully resisted. At the conclusion of this experience in the wilderness, Luke 4:14 states that, “…Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee…” Please note that from these passages in the 4th chapter of Luke, we are told that not only had Jesus been “filled” with the Holy Spirit but that also He is now operating under the “power” of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:38 points to the empowerment that occurred in Jesus because of the Holy Spirit of God. It explains, “…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.” Jesus’ ability to heal the sick, cast out devils and perform awesome miracles came from being anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power. Before He received the anointing, He performed no miracles and healings. After He was anointed with the Holy Spirit, His miracle-healing ministry began.

Jesus Himself confirmed this. Luke 4:14-21 records that, “…Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “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.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.” When He finished reading, Jesus said with resolve, “…Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.”

In essence, when Jesus spoke this, He was saying that the Holy Spirit of God is upon Him and that because of this, He is anointed to preach, heal and set people free who are oppressed.  Thus in this manner began the spectacular ministry of Jesus Christ whom God had anointed “…with the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10:38). Thereafter, Jesus ministered under the power of the anointing of the Holy Spirit healing the sick and doing good.

Jesus pointed toward the anointing and power He had received when He said as recorded in John 14:10, “…The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” He credited the indwelling of God, the anointing, as the power that did the works that people saw Him do. Then Jesus made this bold statement about us, as recorded in John 14:12. He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” How is it possible to do the works Jesus did and even greater works? It is possible by the same route that power came upon Jesus, by the anointing from God. Isaiah 10:27 (KJV) tells us that, “…the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” It is the anointing that destroys the yoke of tyranny that comes from sin and Satan. It is the anointing that destroys the yoke of sickness and disease. The power to break that yoke of bondage and the empowerment to do God’s work lies in the anointing.