That is, sparingly, John declares that the reason why the ministry of Jesus has been so successful is the fact that He came “from above” (v. 31) and that, living here as a man among men, He had been filled with the Holy Spirit. John could not claim either of these qualifications in the same degree that Jesus had them, and Jesus is therefore infinitely superior to John. At best, John could only “know in part, and ... prophesy in part” (1 Cor. 13:9). As a divine being Jesus had no need whatever for the Holy Spirit to be given Him; but as a human being, all that He had He had received from the Father.

 That is, the Christ (see on chs. 1:14; 3:31). For the sense in which the Father sent the Son to this earth see on v. 17. Jesus came, not in His own name and speaking His own words, but in the name of the Father, speaking the words of the Father (cf. ch. 5:19, 30; etc.).