Preparation For Ministry?

The baptism of Jesus is one of Pentecostalism’s strongest foundations for its theology. Jesus was about 30 years old, which under the law is the age required for priesthood (Num 4:3). He obviously was not receiving the Spirit for cleansing, for He had no sin, so it is thought that it must have been for ministry.

While it is understood by all that He could not have had sin, it is assumed by some that He did not yet have power. Others in the Old Testament received the Spirit for ministry, such as those who served in the tabernacle and the elders who helped Moses.

They were not born of the Spirit in the Old Covenant and so needed an external anointing, rather than simply a manifestation of the life of Christ already within. Luke speaks of the anointing in terms of ministry (Luke 1:67, 2:25), before the new birth and also speaks of Jesus’ ministry in this way (Acts 10:38).

In Acts 1:8 Luke continues the power theme for New Covenant Spirit baptism, but does not limit this power to service, showing that it includes “repentance and life” (Acts 10:15-18). Acts does not show a consistent anointing for power theme. It shows anointing for cleansing and for power. The Holy Spirit is seen consistently to work in regard to both these in one baptism.

Seeing Spirit baptism as power for service only and not in terms of New Covenant sonship is not the gospel. The meaning of empowering in the New Covenant is receiving power to become sons of God (John 1:12). The Greek word for power in John 1:12 is exousia, meaning “ability, privilege, force, competency, freedom, power…” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary).

This is the anointing (enablement) that John says we have all received (1 John 2:27). This power is not merely forgiveness, or authority, but a dunamis that changes the nature. We cannot be born again without dunamis (Greek for power, as in dynamite). “The gospel is the power (dunamis) of God to salvation…” (Rom 1:16). This gospel was received at Pentecost. See also 1 Cor 1:18 (dunamis).

Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted and then came out in the power of the Spirit. Some see this as a preparation for ministry and encourage others to follow the example for power. Nothing in the Gospels or the epistles of the New Testament supports this analysis. His power was not derived through works, but resident in Him as Son.

As God, the power was His own. As a Jewish man, He served under the law and was anointed by the Holy Spirit and gave Himself for our redemption. He was raised from the dead by the Spirit, but also through His own power (Rom 10:11) and by the glory of the Father (Rom 6:4). There is no doubt that the trinity act in concert in life of Christ. Concerning His life, Jesus said:

I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again…(John 10:17-18).
If we say that God anointed Him because He overcame temptation and fulfilled the law, besides the power that Christ already had as Son of God but submitted to the Father, then this also cannot apply to us in the New Covenant. Our anointing is freely given by the righteousness of Christ, through faith and it is not based on our own works.