February 15

PART II.

THE ANOINTING OF JESUS.

The Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.—Matthew 3:16.

ISAIAH had delivered two express predictions on the subject of Christ's anointing, (xi. 2. — lxi. 1.,) the latter of which Christ applied to himself in his first sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth. (Luke 4:16, 21.) In the anointing of Jesus the Spirit wholly descended upon him, to others it had been apportioned according to duties, times, and circumstances, but Jesus possessed it in all its plenitude. For God, says John the Baptist, "giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34.) To Apostles in after times, and to the favoured members of the first churches, the Spirit was imparted in great abundance. To one was given the spirit of healing, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, &c., but to Christ the whole spirit was given undivided. He possessed it in all its diversity of operation, in all its fulness of power, in all its unspeakable glory. He became the depository of the Spirit, hence he said to his disciples, "If I go away, I will send the Comforter unto you." And hence the Spirit is emphatically designated the Spirit of Christ. (Romans 8:9.) Have we fellowship with Jesus, in his holy anointing? Have we received the Spirit into our hearts, by which we have become a "holy nation," "a peculiar people," "a royal priesthood."? Let that passage be carefully read where the Apostle saith, "now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 Corinthians 1:21.) And ought we not constantly to pray,

"If in my Father's love,

I share a filial part

Send down thy Spirit like a Dove,

To rest upon my heart."