The holy spirit of joy and gladness

THE HOLY SPIRIT OF JOY AND GLADNESS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Psalm45:7 You love righteousness,and hate
wickedness:therefore God, your God, has anointed
you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
Psalm45:7 ESV / 49 helpful votes
You have loved righteousness andhated wickedness. ThereforeGod, your
God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Isaiah61:3 ESV / 36 helpful votes
To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness insteadof mourning, the garment of praise
instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks ofrighteousness, the
planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
Hebrews 1:9 ESV / 32 helpful votes
You have loved righteousness andhated wickedness;therefore God, your
God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
The Oil of Gladness
Biblical Illustrator

The anointing receivedby our Lord was the resting upon Him of the Spirit of
God without measure (Isaiah 61.). Therefore by the "oil of gladness" is meant
the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of joy. The whole Trinity is engagedin our
salvation. The Fathersends the Son, the Son comes, the Holy Spirit anoints
Him.
I. THE SAVIOUR'S ANOINTING WITH GLADNESS. We think more often
of our Saviour as the "Manof Sorrows" ratherthan in connectionwith
gladness. To those who only saw Him outwardly He was the Man of Sorrows,
but those who knew His heart knew well that a deep joy abode there. Is there
not seento be happiness in the heart when the noblest motives are paramount
and the sweetestgracesbearsway?
1. Our Lord's gladness which He had in His work, Psalm40. tells of Him as
saying, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God." At the well of Samaria His joy
in the conversionof the woman He met there made Him quite forgetall about
His need of food. "I have meat to eat that ye know not of" — so He tells His
disciples. Once, indeed, His joy flowed over, so that others could see it, when
He said, "I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because,"etc.
And it is added, "At that hour Jesus rejoicedin spirit." And so, in their
measure, is it with those who are His followers. Theyalso are in like manner
anointed with the oil of gladness. "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be
brought;" they work for the King with a willing heart.
2. Note, further, that our Lord had this oil of gladness from His work. He did
reap in joy as well as sow in tears. The goodshepherd rejoicedwhen he had
found his sheepthat was lost. The Saviour looks upon the redeemedwith an
unspeakable delight. And we may be partakers in this joy of being
instrumentally the saviour of others;then you, also, partake ofHis gladness.

3. And our Lord has this gladness in this sense too — that His person and His
work are the cause of ineffable gladness in others. It fills us with delight only
to think of Him. "The very thought of Thee with sweetnessfills my heart."
What gladness He createdwhen He was here below. And if the Lord Jesus be
with us, we can give joy to others. There are some whose very presence
comforts others, their words are so full of consolationand help.
II. THE REASON FOR THE BESTOWALOF THIS ANOINTING UPON
HIM. "Thoulovest righteousness and... therefore God," etc. There must be
perfect holiness before there can be perfect happiness. Sin is the enemy of joy.
Let the sinner saywhat he likes, sin can no more dwell with real joy than the
lion will lie down with the lamb. Now, every way Jesus loved righteousness
intensely. He died that He might establishit. And those who are in fellowship
with Him are anointed also. The holy oil was forbidden to be placed upon a
strangerto God's holy house;and upon man's flesh it could not be poured,
because man's flesh is a corrupt and polluted thing. So, then, because He is
righteous Himself, and because He makes others righteous, Christ has
receivedthis anointing.
III. THE MANNER OF THE OPERATION OF THIS, THIS OIL OF
GLADNESS UPON US. Now, does the Holy Spirit give us gladness?
1. Becausewe are anointed "kings and priests with God, and we shall reign
for ever."
2. We are consecratedto the Lord. We are not our own, we are bought with a
price.
3. By this oil we are qualified for our office (1 John 2:20).

4. The Spirit of God heals our diseases. The Easternmode of medicine was
generallythe application of oil, and certainly the Holy Spirit is a healer to us.
What wounds and bruises have been healedwith this oil.
5. Thus, also, we are supplied and softened. So was it with the body when oil
was applied to it, and softness and tenderness of heart are the work of the
Holy Spirit.
6. By the oil of the Holy Spirit we are strengthened.
7. Beautified.
8. Perfumed.
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
Psalm45:7
Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
Psalm45:7
The gladness ofJesus
Mark Guy Pearse.

This is our exceeding joy — the gladness ofHim who loved us and gave
Himself for us. Yet it is not a matter of which we often think. The Man of
Sorrows is much more familiar to us than the Saviour anointed with the oil of
gladness. He was the saddestof men, but He was also the gladdest. This is not
contradictory. The capacityfor grief is the measure of the capacityfor
gladness. The depth is the height. He who never sinks never soars. The keen
sensitiveness to sorrow is also and necessarilythe keensensitiveness, in every
healthy soul, to joy. The perfecthuman nature of our Lord, having every
faculty developedperfectly, had this in its completeness — the faculty of
gladness.
1. In the characterofJesus Christ there was nothing that marred or lessened
in any wise His gladness. We are rent and torn by a score of distractions. It is
as if the strings of the soul were some of them broken, and some were all
unstrung; and on the others a dozen diverse players to contend for mastery.
What a strife and horrid discord is life with many.
2. Think, too, of the sources ofgladness in Himself. All the beatitudes were His
and His perfectly. And all the fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace and all the
rest, all of them the elements of a perfect gladness.
3. Then think of His gladness arising from His relationship alike to heaven
and earth. "The Child grew and waxedstrong in spirit; filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him." And yet again, says St. Luke, "the
Child increasedin wisdom and stature, and in favour with Godand man."
The perfectlove of heavenand earth meet in Jesus. Count up all sources of
gladness;there is none that cancompare with the consciousnessofGod's
favour. To walk hand in hand with Him is Paradise restored.(1)And He grew
in favour with man. Never was any so gladdenedwith the love of earth as was
our blessedLord and Master. Whilst it is true that the world hated Him, and
the Phariseesand Scribes took counselagainstHim; yet it is also true that the
inner circle of His acquaintance yielded Him a devotion such as none else ever
knew. Men and women, and little children gladdened the heart of Jesus. And
we can help to make Him glad. We do so when we bring to Him our gratitude,
and love and trust. Think of the gladness of His youth. He was no melancholy
boy of whom we read that He grew in favour with men; no mysterious

dreamer whom none could understand. Never, surely, was there upon the
earth a sunnier boyhood than that of the holy Child of Nazareth. Take the
story of the wedding at Cane of Galilee. Takeanotherinstance — "In that
hour Jesus rejoicedin spirit and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, because Thouhast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealedthem unto babes." The word means literally that He "danced
for joy." It is an instance of a joy which could not either be restrainedor
uttered. And the source of it may wellsuggestthe thought that it was not a
single or exceptionalevent in His life. Then, think of the gladness ofJesus in
His work — its purpose, its objects, the poor; His fitness for it, His powerin
it; see His miracles. See the parables of Luke 15. as showing His joy.
(Mark Guy Pearse.)
The gladness ofthe Man of Sorrows
Consider—
I. THAT PART OF OUR SAVIOUR'S JOY WHICH IS GIVEN HIM BY HIS
FATHER. He possessedmuch of this anointing with the oil of gladness even
while He was here on earth. He grew in favour both with God and man. Then,
His was the joy of doing good. To do as He did must give joy to a benevolent
mind. And of being good. And in the considerationthat He was doing His
Father's will. And in the glorious prospect. And after He had "endured the
cross, despising the shame." And what joy was His as the risen Mediator.
That He had now accomplisheda work which He had meditated upon from all
eternity. Consider, too, His joy must have been commensurate with the pains
which He endured, and how greatthey were. His joy would arise from the
enemies He had overcome, from His having loved righteousness.See His life;
the effectof His work. The text adds, "Thouhatest wickedness."A man's
characteris not complete without a perfect hatred of sin. And Christ's joy is
greaterthan that of all others. Thus did God anoint Him.
II. THE GLADNESS AFFORDEDBYTHE CHURCH. The merits, graces,
their love, their praise, their prayers, their faith, are like the myrrh, etc., that

when He rides in His triumphal chariot He scatters odourall around. He
rejoices overthe saints as the objects ofHis choice;and because theyhave cost
Him so much; and they are His workmanship. Let us think how we canmake
Him glad.
III. LET US BE GLAD IN HIM. God has made the King glad, and His saints
make Him glad; let us be glad too. But let us mind that our gladness is of the
right sort. "We will rejoice and be glad in Thee."
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
The oil of gladness
Him.

for ever."
price.

Holy Spirit.
7. Beautified.
8. Perfumed.
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
Biblical Illustrator
Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
Psalm45:7
The gladness ofJesus
Mark Guy Pearse.
This is our exceeding joy — the gladness ofHim who loved us and gave
Himself for us. Yet it is not a matter of which we often think. The Man of
Sorrows is much more familiar to us than the Saviour anointed with the oil of
gladness. He was the saddestof men, but He was also the gladdest. This is not
contradictory. The capacityfor grief is the measure of the capacityfor
gladness. The depth is the height. He who never sinks never soars. The keen
sensitiveness to sorrow is also and necessarilythe keensensitiveness, in every
healthy soul, to joy. The perfecthuman nature of our Lord, having every
faculty developedperfectly, had this in its completeness — the faculty of
gladness.

1. In the characterofJesus Christ there was nothing that marred or lessened
in any wise His gladness. We are rent and torn by a score of distractions. It is
as if the strings of the soul were some of them broken, and some were all
unstrung; and on the others a dozen diverse players to contend for mastery.
What a strife and horrid discord is life with many.
2. Think, too, of the sources ofgladness in Himself. All the beatitudes were His
and His perfectly. And all the fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace and all the
rest, all of them the elements of a perfect gladness.
3. Then think of His gladness arising from His relationship alike to heaven
and earth. "The Child grew and waxedstrong in spirit; filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him." And yet again, says St. Luke, "the
Child increasedin wisdom and stature, and in favour with Godand man."
The perfectlove of heavenand earth meet in Jesus. Count up all sources of
gladness;there is none that cancompare with the consciousnessofGod's
favour. To walk hand in hand with Him is Paradise restored.(1)And He grew
in favour with man. Never was any so gladdenedwith the love of earth as was
our blessedLord and Master. Whilst it is true that the world hated Him, and
the Phariseesand Scribes took counselagainstHim; yet it is also true that the
inner circle of His acquaintance yielded Him a devotion such as none else ever
knew. Men and women, and little children gladdened the heart of Jesus. And
we can help to make Him glad. We do so when we bring to Him our gratitude,
and love and trust. Think of the gladness of His youth. He was no melancholy
boy of whom we read that He grew in favour with men; no mysterious
dreamer whom none could understand. Never, surely, was there upon the
earth a sunnier boyhood than that of the holy Child of Nazareth. Take the
story of the wedding at Cane of Galilee. Takeanotherinstance — "In that
hour Jesus rejoicedin spirit and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, because Thouhast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealedthem unto babes." The word means literally that He "danced
for joy." It is an instance of a joy which could not either be restrainedor
uttered. And the source of it may wellsuggestthe thought that it was not a
single or exceptionalevent in His life. Then, think of the gladness ofJesus in
His work — its purpose, its objects, the poor; His fitness for it, His powerin
it; see His miracles. See the parables of Luke 15. as showing His joy.

(Mark Guy Pearse.)
The gladness ofthe Man of Sorrows
Consider—
I. THAT PART OF OUR SAVIOUR'S JOY WHICH IS GIVEN HIM BY HIS
FATHER. He possessedmuch of this anointing with the oil of gladness even
while He was here on earth. He grew in favour both with God and man. Then,
His was the joy of doing good. To do as He did must give joy to a benevolent
mind. And of being good. And in the considerationthat He was doing His
Father's will. And in the glorious prospect. And after He had "endured the
cross, despising the shame." And what joy was His as the risen Mediator.
That He had now accomplisheda work which He had meditated upon from all
eternity. Consider, too, His joy must have been commensurate with the pains
which He endured, and how greatthey were. His joy would arise from the
enemies He had overcome, from His having loved righteousness.See His life;
the effectof His work. The text adds, "Thouhatest wickedness."A man's
characteris not complete without a perfect hatred of sin. And Christ's joy is
greaterthan that of all others. Thus did God anoint Him.
II. THE GLADNESS AFFORDEDBYTHE CHURCH. The merits, graces,
their love, their praise, their prayers, their faith, are like the myrrh, etc., that
when He rides in His triumphal chariot He scatters odourall around. He
rejoices overthe saints as the objects ofHis choice;and because theyhave cost
Him so much; and they are His workmanship. Let us think how we canmake
Him glad.
III. LET US BE GLAD IN HIM. God has made the King glad, and His saints
make Him glad; let us be glad too. But let us mind that our gladness is of the
right sort. "We will rejoice and be glad in Thee."
( C. H. Spurgeon.)
The oil of gladness

Him.

for ever."
price.
Holy Spirit.
7. Beautified.
8. Perfumed.
( C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Oil of Gladness
January 16, 1876
by
C. H. SPURGEON
(1834-1892)
"Thou lovestrighteousness,and hatestwickedness:therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."—Psalm45:7.
We know that the anointing receivedby our Lord Jesus Christ was the resting
of the Spirit of God upon him without measure. We are not left to any
guesswork aboutthis, for in Isaiah 61 we are told, "The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me." Our Lord appropriated these
very words to himself when he went into the synagogue atNazareth and
opened the book at the place wherein these words are written, and said, "This
day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears." The Apostle Peteralso, in Acts
10:38, speaks of"How God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Ghost
and with power":so that we know both on Old and New Testamentauthority
that the anointing which rested upon the Lord Jesus Christwas the unction of
the Holy Ghost. Therefore, by the "oil of gladness" whichwe have before us
in the text is intended the Holy Spirit himself, or one of the gracious results of
his sacredpresence.The divine Spirit has many attributes, and his benign
influences operate in divers ways, bestowing upon us benefits of various kinds,
too numerous for us to attempt to catalogue them. Amongst these is his
comforting and cheering influence. "The fruit of the Spirit is joy." In Acts
13:52 we read, "The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost."
Wherever he comes as an anointing, whether upon the Lord or upon his
people, upon the Christ or the Christians, upon the Anointed or upon those
whom he anoints, in every case the ultimate result is joy and peace. Onthe

head of our greatHigh Priest he is joy, and this oil of gladness flows down to
the skirts of his garments. To the Comforter, therefore, we ascribe "the oil of
gladness."
From this greattruth we learn another, namely, the perfect co-operationof
the three persons of the blessedTrinity in the work of our redemption. The
Father sends the Son, the Son with alacrity comes to redeemus, and the Spirit
of God is upon him; so that Father, Son, and Spirit have eacha part in the
saving work, and the one God of heavenand earth is the God of salvation. A
very interesting subjectis the work of the Spirit upon the person of our Lord
Jesus Christ. We see the Holy Ghost mysteriously operating in the formation
and birth of the holy child Jesus, forby the overshadowing ofthe Holy Ghost
was he born of a woman. This work of the Holy Spirit was manifested to all
believing eyes when the Lord Jesus came out of the waters of the Jordan after
his baptism, and the Holy Spirit descendedlike a dove and rested upon him.
Before he was said to "waxstrong in spirit," but afterwards he is describedas
"full of the Holy Ghost." Then was he led of the Spirit and inspired by his
divine energy, and this was shown throughout the whole of his life, for the
Spirit was with him in innumerable miracles and in the demonstration and
powerwhich followedhis words, so that he spoke as one having authority, and
not as the Scribes. In him was abundantly fulfilled the prophecy which saith,
"And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counseland might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fearof the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear
of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove
after the hearing of his ears:But with righteousness shallhe judge the poor,
and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth." The Holy Spirit had also a
peculiar interest in his resurrection, for he was "declaredto be the Sonof God
with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrectionfrom the
dead." He was "put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." That
same Spirit wrought even more fully when the Lord ascendedup on high, and
led captivity captive; then, succeeding his ascension, the gifts of the cloven
tongues of fire and the rushing mighty wind were witnessedby his disciples,
for the Spirit of God was given abundantly to the church in connectionwith

the ascensionofthe Redeemer. Oh, how sweetlydoth the Spirit co-operate
with Christ at this very day, for it is he that takes ofthe things of Christ and
reveals them unto us. He is the abiding witness in the church to the truth of
the gospel, andthe workerof all our gifts and graces.Jesusgives repentance,
but the Spirit works it; faith fixes upon Christ, but the Spirit of God first
creates faith and opens the eye which looks to Jesus. The whole of this
dispensationthrough it is the peculiar office of the Spirit of God to be
revealing Christ to his people, and Christ in his people, and Christ in the
midst of an ungodly and gainsaying generation, fora testimony againstthem.
Blessedbe the name of the Holy Spirit, that he is the divine anointing, and so
proves his hearty assentto the greatplan of redemption.
We now come, however, more closelyto the text. The Spirit of God is here
consideredin one of his influences or operations as "the oil of gladness":we
shall speak of this in the following way. First, the Savior's anointing with
gladness;secondly, the reasonfor the bestowalof this oil of joy upon him;
and, thirdly, the manner of the operationof this sacredanointing upon
ourselves.
I. Let us carefully considerTHE SAVIOR'S ANOINTING WITH
GLADNESS.
We are, perhaps, surprised to read of our Lord in connectionwith gladness.
Truly he was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet this
sorrowfulaspectwas that which he presented to the superficialoutside
observer;and those who look within the veil of his flesh know well that a
mystic glory shone within his soul. Did not David say of him as the King of
Israel—"His gloryis greatin thy salvation:honor and majesty hast thou laid
upon him. Forthou hast made him most blessedfor ever: thou hast made him
exceeding gladwith thy countenance." Ifully believe that there was never on
the face of the earth a man who knew so profound and true a gladness as our
blessedLord. Did he not desire that his joy might be in his people that their
joy might be full? Does not benevolence begetjoy, and who so kind as he? Is it

not a greatjoy to suffer self-sacrificefor beloved ones? And who so
disinterestedas he? Is there not sure to be happiness in the heart where the
noblest motives are paramount and the sweetestgraces bearsway? And was
not this pre-eminently the case withour Lord? Let us see.
The gladness ofour Lord Jesus may be viewed, first, as the gladness which he
had IN his work. The Son of God delighted in the work which his Fatherhad
given him to do. This delight he declaredas God, in the old eternity! "Lo I
come;in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O
God." This delight he had shownas man even before his great public
anointing, for when he was yet a child he said, "Wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?" Evidently, even while yet a youth, he
anticipated with delight the greatbusiness which he had to do for his Father,
and commencing in a measure to do it amongstthe doctors in the temple at
Jerusalem. But the day came in which he had reachedthe appointed age, and
he at once went forth to John to be baptized by him in Jordan, being eagerto
fulfill all righteousness.Thenthe Spirit of God came down upon him, and he
was openly and visibly anointed, and you see from the moment when he began
to stand before the public eye, with what alacrity he pursued his life work. We
find him fasting, but he has been speaking to a woman by the well's brink, and
the joy which he has felt while blessing her has made him quite forgetthe
necessityfor food, and he tells his disciples "I have meat to eat that ye know
not of." He felt greatgladness in that woman's joy, as she believed in him, and
in the expectationof yet more numerous converts from those who were
flocking from Samaria, of whom he said "Lift up now your eyes, for behold
the fields are white alreadyunto the harvest." That joy in his work made him
abhor all idea of turning from its awful consummation, and led him to say to
Peter's suggestion"Getthee behind me, Satan." We see it also in such
expressions as this, "I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I
straitened till it be accomplished." We read that when the time came that he
should be receivedup, he steadfastlyset his face to go to Jerusalem. His
frequent allusions to his own deceaseby a shameful death, all showedthat he
viewed with intense satisfactionthe greatobjectafter which he was reaching.
Once, indeed, his joy flowed over so that others could see it, when he said, "I

thank thee, O Father, Lord of heavenand earth, because thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealedthem unto babes." "At
that hour Jesus rejoicedin spirit." Let it never be forgottenthat we must not
expectsee in the life of Christ greatebullitions of manifest exultation, because
he was sent on purpose to bear our sicknesses, andto be "strickenofGod and
afflicted." His deep joy was concealedby his many griefs, even as the inner
glory of the tabernacle of old was hidden beneath coverings ofbadgers' skins.
He was the sun under a cloud, but he was the sun still. If you have a small
burden to carry, you may have an excess ofstrength which you candisplay in
leaping or running, but if you have an enormous load to sustain your steady
bearing of it may be an equally sure proof of your strength: so also, if your
trials are light, your joyous spirits may vent themselves in smiles and songs,
but if you are severelyafflicted it will need all your joyfulness to keepyou
from sinking. Our blessedLord had a load upon him infinitely transcending
any weightof sorrow everborne by the most burdened of his people, and it
needed the wonderful joy which I feelsure we are justified in ascribing to him
to balance the marvellous grief which he had to endure. The uplifting
influence of this joy sufficed to bring him into a condition of calm, quiet,
serene majestyof spirit. Nothing strikes you more in the Saviorthan the quiet
peacefulness withwhich he pursues the even tenor of his way. Now, if he had
not possessedgreatstores ofsecretjoy his spirit would have been famished for
want of sustenance. You would have found him constantly sighing and
weeping;his words and tones would have become a terror to those around
him, and his whole appearance would have appearedmelancholy and
depressing to the lastdegree, whereas his manner was cheerful and
attractive—letthe little children who thronged around him bear witness to
that. He was a man of sorrows, but he was not a preacherof sorrows, neither
do his life or his discourses leave anunhappy impression upon the mind. The
fact, probably, is, that he was both the greatestrejoicerandthe greatest
mourner that ever lived, and betweenthese two there was an equilibrium of
mind kept up, so that wherever you meet him, with the exception of his agony
in the garden, he is peacefuland serene. You neither see him dancing like
David before the ark, nor yet like David bewailing the loss of one he loved
with a "Would God I had died for thee." He does not, like Elijah, run before
the king's chariot, nor lie down under the juniper to die. He neither strives

nor cries, nor causes his voice to be heard in the streets;his peace is like a
river, and his heart abides in the Sabbath of God.
We see, then, that in his work our greatHigh Priestwas anointed with the oil
of gladness above his fellows, but we also note that those who are his fellows
do in their degree partake in this oil of gladness, andare enabled to feel joy in
the work which is appointed them of the Lord. While our King is anointed
with the oil of gladness it is also written of the virgin souls who wait upon his
church, "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought, they shall enter
into the King's palace." If any professing Christian man here is engagedin a
work which he does not feel glad to do, I question if he is in his right place.
Occasionalfits of depressionthere may be, but these are not because we do
not love the work, but because we cannotdo it so well as we would desire. We
are tired in the work, but not tired of it. The Lord loves to employ willing
workmen. His army is not made up of pressedmen, but of those whom grace
has made volunteers. "Serve the Lord with gladness."Our Lord does not set
us task work, and treat us like prisoners in gaol, orslaves under the lash. I
sometimes hear our life-work calleda task. Well, the expressionmay be
tolerated, but I confess I do not like it to be applied to Christian men. It is no
task to me at any rate to preachmy Master's gospel,orto serve him in any
way. I thank God every day that "to me, who am less than the leastof all
saints, is this grace giventhat I should preachamong the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ." You teachers in the school, I hope your labor
of love is not a bondage to you! An unwilling teacherwill soonmake unwilling
scholars. Yea, I know that those of you who serve the Lord find a reward in
the work itself, and gladly pursue it. I am sure you will not prosperin it if it
be not so. If you follow your work unwillingly, and regretthat you ever
undertook it, and feel encumbered by it, you will do no good. No man wins a
race who has no heart in the running. In this respectthe joy of the Lord is
your strength, and as your Masterwas anointedwith the oil of gladness in his
work, so must you be. Yet, beloved fellow laborer, you will never be so glad in
your work as he was in his, nor will you ever be able to prove that gladness by
such self-denials, by such agonies, andsuch a death. He has proved how glad
he was to save sinners, because "forthe joy that was set before him, he

endured the cross, despising the shame." BlessedEmanuel, thou art justly
anointed with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
We further note that our Lord had this oil of gladness FROM his work. Even
while he was engagedin it he derived some joy from it, though it was but as
the gleanings ofthe vintage comparedwith the after results. He did reap in
joy as well as sow in tears, for many became his disciples, and over eachone of
these he rejoiced. It was impossible that the GoodShepherd should have saved
so many sheepas he did without rejoicing when he threw them on his
shoulders to bear them to the fold. Assuredly he rejoicedthat he had found
the sheepwhich he had lost. But the fullness of his joy was left till after he had
ascendedon high, then indeed was he anointed with the oil of gladness, and
the voice was heard, "To forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king
Solomonwith the crownwherewith his mother crownedhim in the day of his
espousals,and in the day of the gladness of his heart." My brethren, the joy of
our Lord Jesus Christ now that he knows his beloved are securelyhis, and no
longerthe slaves of sin and heirs of wrath, is too greatto be measured. He has
redeemedunto himself a people in whom his soul delights. For them the price
is fully paid, for them the penalty has been completely endured, for them all
chains are broken, and for them the prison house is razed to its foundation:
for them hath he bruised the serpent's head, for them hath he by death
destroyeddeath, and led captive him that had the power of death, even the
devil.
"All his work and warfare done,
He into his heavenis gone,
And before his Father's throne
Now is pleading for his own."

He now continues to receive into his joy the multitudes whom the Spirit brings
to him, for whom of old he shed his precious blood. You cannot conceive the
gladness ofChrist. If you have ever brought one soul to Christ you have had a
drop of it, but his gladness lies not only in receiving them, but in actually
being the author of salvationto every one of them. The Saviorlooks upon the
redeemedwith an unspeakable delight, thinks of what they used to be, thinks
of what they would have been but for his interposition, thinks of what they
now are, think of what he means to make them in that greatday when they
shall rise from the dead; and as his heart is full of love to them he joys in their
joy, and exults in their exultation. Their heavens swelltheir Mediator's
heaven, and their myriad embodiments of bliss, eachone reflects his own
felicity, and so (speaking after the manner of men) increasesit, for he lives ten
thousand lives by living in them, and joys unnumbered joys in their joys. I
speak with humblest fearlest in any word I should speak amiss, for he is God
as well as man, but this is certain, that there is a joy of our Lord into which he
will give his faithful ones to enter, a joy which he has won by passing through
the shame and grief by which he has redeemedmankind. The oil of gladness is
abundantly poured on that head which once was crownedwith thorns.
Now, brethren, you, also, canbe partakers in this joy. When he makes you in
your little measure to be instrumentally saviours of others, then you also
partake of his gladness, but as I have said before, you cannot know its fullness,
for he is in this respectanointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows.
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this
that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatnessofhis strength? I that
speak in righteousness, mighty to save. I have trodden the winepress alone;
and of the people there was none with me." Returning from the battle and the
spoil he has a joy with which none can intermeddle, for his ownright hand
and his holy arm hath gotten unto him the victory.
Again, our Lord Jesus has the oil of gladness poured upon him in another
sense, namely, because his personand his work are the cause ofineffable

gladness in others. Oh, I wish I had a week in which to talk upon this point—a
week—one couldscarcelyenterupon the theme in that time! We sang just
now—
"Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetnessfills my breast."
The oil of gladness upon him is so sweetthat we have only to think upon it and
it fills us with delight. There is gladness in his very name.
"Exult all hearts with gladness
At sound of Jesu's name;
What other hath such sweetness,
Or such delight can claim?"
What gladness he createdwhen here below. His birth set the skies ringing
with heavenly music, and made the hearts of expectant saints to leap for joy.
In after days a touch of the hem of his garment made a woman's heart glad
when she felt the issue of her blood staunched, and a word from his lips made
the tongue of the dumb to sing. For him to lay his hand upon the sick was to
raise them from their beds of sickness, anddeliver them from pain and
disease. His touch was gladness then, and a spiritual touch is the same now.
To-day to preach of him is gladness, to sing of him is gladness, to trust him is
gladness, to work for him is gladness, to have communion with him is
gladness. To come to his table, and there to feastwith him, is gladness;to see
his image in the eyes of his saints is gladness;to see that image only as yet
begun to form in the heart of a young convert is gladness. Everything about
him is gladness. All his garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.

Nothing comes within a mile of him but what it makes you glad to think that
he has been so near it. The very print of his foothas comfort in it, and the
wounds in his hands are windows of hope. I have knownsome who have had
to carry a cross for his dear sake, andthey have kissedand hugged that cross,
and gloriedin their tribulations because they were borne for him. Fellowship
with him has turned the bitterest potion into generous wine. Beloved, if these
distant glimpses are so precious, what must it be to see him face to face? I
have tried to conceive it, and I protest that even in attempting the conception
my spirit seems to swoonat the prospectof such supreme delight. Only to
hear the music of his footfallon the other side the partition wall raises
longings in my heart too strong, too eagerto be long endured. What, death,
art thou all that divides me from seeing my Lord? I would gladly die a million
deaths to see him as he is and to be like him. What, a slumber in the grave for
this poor body! Is that all I have to dread? Then let it slumber, and let the
worms consume it, for "I know that my Redeemerliveth, and that he shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Oh, what will it be to see
him? To see HIM that loved us so, to mark the wounds with which he
purchased our redemption, to behold his glory, to listen to that deal voice of
his, and to hear him say, "Well done, goodand faithful servant." To lie in his
bosom for ever, truly neither eye hath not seen, nor earheard the like of this
bliss. More than the bride longs for the marriage day do we expectthe bridal
feastof heaven, but of all the dainties on that royal table there will not be one
that will be equal to himself, for to see him will be all the heaven we desire. He
is better than heaven's harp or angels, and the cause of greatergladness than
streets of gold or walls of jasper.
Brethren, can we share this power to distribute joy? Assuredly we can. If the
Lord Jesus be with us we can give joy to others. I know some whose very
presence comforts their fellows;their words are so full of consolation, and
their hearts so overflowing with sympathy that they make gladness wherever
they go. Ay, but the best of you, ye sons of consolation, are not anointed with
the oil of gladness to the same extent as he was. Above his fellows, evenabove
Barnabas the son of consolation;above the best and the tenderest

sympathizers is he thus anointed, and from him there pours forth a continual
stream of effectualconsolationwhichbecomes the oil of joy to those who wear
the garments of heaviness. Thus much upon the first point, the Savior's
anointing of gladness.
II. Let us now considerTHE REASON FOR THE BESTOWALOF THIS
ANOINTING UPON HIM?
It is given in the text. He is anointed alcove his fellows, because it is said of
him, "Thou lovestrighteousness, andhatest wickedness."The perfect
righteousness ofChrist has brought to him this gladness, becauseperfect
holiness there must be before there can be perfect happiness. Sin is the enemy
of joy. Let the sinner say what he likes, sin can no more dwell with real joy
than the lion will lie down with the lamb. To be perfectly glad you must be
perfectly cleansedfrom sin, for until you are so cleansedyou cannotpossess
the oil of gladness to the measure that Christ possessedit. As the believer is
delivered from the powerof sin he is brought into a condition in which the joy
of the Lord can more and more abide in him. Now, every wayJesus loved
righteousness intenselyand hated wickednessintensely. He died that he might
establishrighteousness and that he might destroy wickednessfrom off the face
of the earth; therefore it is that he has greatergladness,becausehe had
greaterholiness. Moreover, youknow that in any holy enterprise if the
business succeeds the joy of the workeris proportionate to the trial it has cost
him. In the greatbattle of righteousness ourLord has led the van, in the great
fight againstwickednessourSavior has borne the brunt of the battle,
therefore, because he to the death loved righteousness and to the agonyand
bloody sweatstrove againstsin, the accomplishedconquestbrings him the
greatestjoy. He has done the most for the goodcause, and therefore he is
anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows.
Now, note there is another reasonwhy he is anointed, and there is another
view of the anointing. He is anointed above his fellows, whichshows that those
who are in fellowshipwith him are anointed too. You observedin our reading

that the high priest had the oil poured on his head, but the sons of Aaron who
were minor priests were sprinkled with this same oil mixed with the blood of
the sacrifice. OnChrist this anointing is poured above his fellows, and then
upon his fellows in communion with himself there comes the sprinkling of the
oil. We have our measure; he has it without measure. Now, beloved, Christ is
anointed above his fellows that his fellows may be anointed with him. Even as
he ascendedabove all things that he might fill all things, so is he anointed
above his fellows that he may anoint his fellows;and through the powerof the
anointing we are told that his people come into the same condition of
righteousness as himself. Turn to Isaiah61., which passagewe have already
had before us, and you find as follows—"To appointunto them that mourn in
Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;that"—mark this!—"that they
might be calledtrees of righteousness".Now, observe,that we first read,
"Thou lovestrighteousness andhatest wickedness, therefore Godhath
anointed thee with the oil of gladness," andthen we meet with the parallel
with reference to ourselves, "The oil of joy for mourning, that they may be
calledtrees of righteousness." He is anointed because he is righteous; we are
anointed that we may be righteous, and thus in Christ we come into the
condition in which it is safe for us to be glad, and possible for joy to dwell in
us. To the unrighteous the oil of gladness cannotcome, but to the righteous
there ariseth light even in darkness. "There is no peace saith my God, unto
the wicked." The holy oil was forbidden to be placed upon a strangerto God's
holy house;and upon man's flesh it could not be poured, because man's flesh
is a corrupt, polluted thing. This oil of gladness comes only on those who are
born into God's Israel by regeneration, and are delivered from walking after
the flesh; these the Lord makes to be as "trees of righteousness,the planting
of the Lord, that he may be glorified." See then the two reasons why Christ
has receivedthe anointing, first because he is righteous himself; and secondly,
that he may make others righteous. Therefore is the Spirit of the Lord God
upon him that he may give the oil of joy to his own chosen, and make them
righteous, even as he is righteous, glad as he is glad.

III. We will now meditate upon THE MANNER OF THE OPERATION OF
THIS OIL OF GLADNESS UPON US.
Jesus is anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. Now, we have to
show that his fellows are anointed with the oil of gladness too. Did not David
say, "Thou anointest mine head with oil; my cup runneth over"? so that we
can sayof ourselves whatwe say of our Lord, we are anointed, for he was
anointed. Now, in what respects does the anointing of the Holy Spirit give us
gladness? Ishall notice eight things, and touch but very briefly on each.
First, we too, through Jesus Christ, are anointed to an office, "for he hath
made us"—whisperit to one another in the joy of delight—"He hath made us
kings and priests unto God, and we shall reign for ever and ever." When the
oil went on Aaron's head, you know how it ran down his beard, even Aaron's
beard, unto the skirts of his garments, and now this day this anointing oil,
which made the king and the priest, has fallen upon us too. Blessedbe his
name, shall we not be glad? It is very inconsistentwith our position if we are
not. Are you a king and do you not rejoice?
"Why should the children of our King
Go mourning all their days?
SweetComforter, descendand bring
Some unction of thy grace."
May the gladness now come to you. You are priests to God. Shall the anointed
priests serve their Lord with gloomy countenances? No:rejoice in the Lord
always, all ye priests of his that are anointed to this blessedwork. "Blessthe
Lord, O house of Israel:bless the Lord, O house of Aaron."

We, too, are consecratedto the Lord, for the oil poured upon the priest was
the oil of consecration. Fromthat time forward he was a dedicated man; he
could not serve anyone but God; he, above all the rest of the congregation,
was the man of Godfor ever as long as ever he lived. So beloved, we have been
consecrated:the Spirit of God has sanctifiedus and setus apart unto the
Lord, as it is written, "Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price." Our
Lord said in his matchless prayer, "they are not of the world, even as I am not
of the world." "Sanctify them," said he, "by thy truth, thy word is truth."
Yes, blessedbe God, we are consecratedmen and women: we belong to the
Lord, and are vessels forthe Master's use, hallowedfrom all other uses to be
the Lord's. "ForI will be to them a God, they shall be to me a people." Does
not this make you glad? Are you really set apart to be the Lord's own sons
and daughters, and hallowedto be used by him in his service both here and
hereafter, and do you not rejoice? O my soul, dost thou not feel the trickling
of the consecrating oiladown thy brow even now, and does it not make thy
face to shine and make thy heart happy, because thou art now the Lord's?
Thirdly, by this oil we are also qualified for our office. You see the Spirit
descendedupon Christ that he might have the spirit of wisdom, and power,
and so be strengthened and qualified to discharge his sacredwork. Now, the
Spirit of Godis upon every believer in this sense. Rememberhow in his First
Epistle, secondchapter, and twentieth verse, John says, "Ye have an unction
from the Holy One, and ye know all things," or "ye are able to discern all
things." And further on, in that same chapter, he says, "This anointing
teachethyou all things." Well, if we are to serve the Lord a main gift is
knowledge, forhow can we instruct the ignorant, or guide the perplexed,
exceptwe know ourselves? And it is this anointing which teaches us, and
makes us fit for the service to which the Masterhas called us. Oh, does the
Holy Spirit then lead us into all truth, and give us knowledge, and shall we not
rejoice? Ignorance means sorrow, but the light of the knowledge ofGod in the
face of Jesus Christ means joy. O brethren, will ye not bless God to-day for
what the Spirit of God has taught you? If you do not, what must you be made
of? for he has taught you such wonderful lessons so full of joy. Even if he has
never taught you more than this, that whereas you were once blind now you

see, he has taught you enough to make your heart rejoice as long as you live.
Is he not the oil of gladness?
Fourthly, the Spirit of God heals us of our diseases.The Easternmode of
medicine was generallythe application of oil, and I should not wonder if in the
course of years it should be discoveredthat the modern pharmacy, with all its
drugs, is not worth so much as the old-fashionedmethod. Certainly, when the
Holy Spirit spake concerning sick men, and advised that medicines should be
used, and prayer for their restoration, he prescribed anointing with oil. I
suppose that anointing with oil was mentioned because it was the current
medicine of the times, but it could not have been injurious or altogether
absurd, or the Holy Spirit would not in any measure have sanctionedit. I will
not raise the question, however. But a frequent medicine of the olden time
was, undoubtedly, anointing with oil, and it is well knownthat olive oil does
possessvery remarkable healing qualities. I have read in books of one or two
instances of the bites of serpents having the venom effectually removed by the
use of olive oil. It is more commonly used in countries where it grows than
here, and it is in many ways a very useful medicine. Certainly the Holy Spirit
is that to us. What wounds and bruises have been healed with this oil. Before
the Spirit came they were putrefying, they had not been bound up nor
mollified with ointment, but now this ointment, mixed after the art of the
apothecary, with the costliestspices,has effectuallyhealed us, and what
remains of the old sores and wounds it continues still to heal; and so
wonderful is its power it will ultimately take out every scar, and we shall be
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing through its healing power. Shall we
not, therefore, be gladand rejoice in the Lord, for if restorationto health
makes us happy surely the renewalof our spiritual youth should make our
hearts bound for joy?
Thus also we are suppled and softened. Oil applied to the body supples and
softens, and, believe me, brethren, nothing is more akin to joy than softness
and tenderness of heart. If ever you meet with a hard-hearted proud man, he

is not a happy man and if he should seemto be happy in his pride it is a
dangerous and deadly happiness, and the soonerit is taken awaythe better.
Where God dwells is heaven, and where does he dwell? With the humble and
the contrite heart. That is a beautiful expressionof David's, I have drank joy
out of it, "Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast
broken may rejoice." Oh, there is never a bone in manhood's system that
knows how to rejoice till God has broken it, and when it is broken then comes
the mighty Physician and applies the oil and restores the bone to infinitely
more than its former strength, and then the bones which had been broken
become eachone so many new arguments for gratitude, and all our healed
wounds become mouths of praise unto the MostHigh. We are thus softened
and gladdened.
By the oil of the Holy Spirit we are also strengthened. Oil well rubbed into the
system was anciently assumedto be a great strengthener, and I suppose it was.
Certainly the Holy Spirit is the strength of Christians, and where he is the
strength there is sure to be joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength."
Oil, too, is a beautifier. The Easterns did not think themselves fit for their
banquets till they had washedtheir face and anointed themselves with
perfumed oil. They were very fond of locks dripping with oil and faces bright
therewith. Certainly there is a beauty which the Spirit gives to men, which
they can never obtain in any other way. Oh, the excellence ofthe character
that is formed by the hand of the Spirit of God! It is a beautiful thing which
even God himself delights to look upon; it is a thing of beauty, and in the most
emphatic sense a joy for ever. He that is made comelywith the comeliness
which the Holy Spirit gives must be a happy man. Other beauty may bring
sorrow, but the beauty of holiness makes us akin to angels.
Once more, it becomes a perfume. When oil was poured on a man his
presence scentedthe air around him, and when the Spirit of God is given to us

it is perceived by other spiritual minds. Cannot you detectin a brother's
prayer that he has been with Jesus? Do you not know by the lives of some of
Christ's dear saints that he is very familiar with them? Do you not perceive
that they have had a specialanointing? The ungodly world cannot tell it, but
saints discern it. The nostril of the wickedis only pleasedby the leeks, andthe
garlic, and the onions of Egypt, but the believing nostril has been sanctified,
and it perceives the delicate myrrh and cinnamon, and sweetcalamus and
cassia,whichmake up the anointing oil. The rare combination of sacred
qualities which make up a holy characterwill be seenin the believer in whom
the Holy Spirit displays his power, and as a consequencehe will be glad at
heart.
Furthermore, I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them
now, for the time is spent. Therefore I will only say, I pray, brethren, that the
anointing may be ours in all the various sensesI have mentioned. I should like
all of you to go awayhappy. You children of God, be as glad as ever you can
be. I would to God that a sacredgladness rang through this house like a
marriage peal: yet for all that, do not forget that Jesus has joy above you all.
You may be very glad, but he is gladder still. You may sing his praises, but he
leads the sacredorchestra ofheaven. "In the midst of the congregationwill I
praise thee," saith he. Rejoice in his joy. I have often thought it did not matter
any more what became of me so long as he is victorious. A soldierin battle,
sorelywounded, lies bleeding in a ditch, but he hears the sound of the
trumpets, and they tell him the commander is coming along, the King for
whom his loyal heart is willing to bleed, and he enquires, "Have they won the
day?" "Oh, yes," they say"he has wonthe day, and the enemy are flying
before him." The soldier exclaims, "Thank God, I can die." It is the soldier's
joy to die with victory ringing in his ears. Our Lord is glad, and therefore we
are glad.
"Let him be crownedwith majesty
Who bowed his head to death,

And be his honor sounded high
By all things that have breath."
If it be so we will be content to say, like David, "The prayers of David, the son
of Jesse,are ended." We have no more to pray for: we have done with the
world, done with wishing, done with everything, if Christ reigns, and all
things are under his foot. May this joy be yours. Amen.
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84/2008
Issue:12, 3/15/2008
Marcus John
Jesus Anointed with the Oil of Gladness
By Marcus John, in Meditation
Volume 84/2008
Issue:12, 3/15/2008
Next Article
Rev. Marcus is pastor of the First ProtestantReformedChurch in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada.
Thou hast loved righteousness, andhated iniquity; therefore God, even thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Hebrews 1:9
The book of Hebrews is all about Jesus Christ and His work as the mediator
of a better covenant. Jesus was appointedheir of all things. Now, as our

mediator, He is working to bring us to that inheritance. That is why God
anointed Him with the oil of gladness, in order that Jesus could accomplish
His work as mediator. That's a glorious truth. It has implications for every
believer. God calledand equipped Jesus to be a faithful servant. But, just as
God calledand equipped Jesus for office, so too does He call and equip us,
who are brethren of Jesus. As we receive the anointing, we are able to carry
out the duties to which God calls us.
That Jesus was anointedto serve in an office is indicated by the fact that He is
the Christ; that is to say, he is "the Anointed One." Of course, Jesus wasnot
anointed with physical oil; but he was anointed with the Holy Spirit.Hebrews
1:9 speaksofthis fact when it says that God anointed Jesus with the oil of
gladness. This was nothing less than the anointing with the Holy Spirit. It was
this anointing that perfectly equipped Jesus to carry out the duties as
mediator in His glorious office. His task was, and is, to bring us to God.
Anointed with oil
Anointing was a familiar occurrence in the Old Testament. The basic idea of
anointing is to pour oil upon something in order to setit apart for special
service. We find that idea expressedin God's conversationwith Jacob
inGenesis 31:13:
I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedstthe pillar, and where thou
vowedsta vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return
unto the land of thy kindred.
The pillar was setapart to serve as a specialmemorial; that is the significance
of its being anointed.

Similarly, oil was used to anoint the tabernacle and the various vessels ofthe
tabernacle to setthem apart for specialservice. We read inExodus 30:26-29,
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregationtherewith, and the
ark of the testimony, And the table and all his vessels,and the candlestick and
his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his
vessels, andthe laver and his foot. And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may
be most holy: whatsoevertoucheth them shall be holy.
Anointing showedthat these things were specificallymeant for the service of
God. The anointing indicated that these things were holy; they were setapart
from common use and consecratedto be used in the service of God.
Just as anointing was usedto setthings apart for specialservice to God, it was
also used to setcertain persons apart for service to God. We find that God
commanded that those who served in any of the three specialoffices in the Old
Testamentwere to be anointed. Mostof us are familiar with the anointing of
kings. David, for example, was anointed by Samuel:
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful
countenance, and goodlyto look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him:
for this is he. Then Samueltook the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst
of his brethren...
I Sam. 16:12-13.
Similarly, priests were anointed: "And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy
brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them,
and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office" (Ex.
28:41). Lastly, we find mention of particular prophets being anointed:
"...Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet
in thy room" (I Kings 19:16). Anointing showedthat God Himself had set
these people apart for specialservice.

The anointing with oil indicated that a specialoffice was being assignedto the
person being anointed. It stands to reason, then, that the oil used in the
anointing ceremony was very special. The oil was so specialthat GodHimself
gave the recipe for how it should be made: "And thou shalt make it an oil of
holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary:it shall
be an holy anointing oil" (Ex. 30:25). The contents are describedin the
following verses:
And the LORD said unto Moses,Take unto thee sweetspices, stacte, and
onycha, and galbanum; these sweetspices with pure frankincense:of each
shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection
after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy,
Ex. 30:34-35.
It is evident that the recipe produced a sweet-smelling oil. This specialoil
must not be used for any ordinary purposes. Furthermore, we are told in
Exodus that anyone who tried to duplicate the smell of this oil would be cut off
from the people.
Why the pleasantsmell? Why didn't God simply tell Moses to use plain old
olive oil? Obviously God didn't go through all the trouble of specifying a
recipe for nothing. He had a reasonfor specifying a sweet-smelling oil. The oil,
with its pleasantsmell, was meant to serve as a picture of equipping those who
were anointed. This is connectedto the fact that the oil made the officebearers
smell good. Psalm45:7-8 declares:
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatestwickedness:therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments
smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia,out of the ivory palaces, wherebythey
have made thee glad.
What was it that gave Solomon's garments such a sweetsmell? It was the fact
that he had been anointed with the oil of gladness.

Notice that the sweetsmellmade the officebearerglad;the psalmist says,
"Whereby they have made thee glad." This is why the anointing oil is called
the "oilof gladness."The fragrant oil poured on the officebearerhad an effect
on him. Whereverhe went with his anointed garments, that wonderful sweet
smell followedhim. One canalmost imagine a smile on his face as he breathed
in the smell of the anointing oil while he went from one task to another. In
effect, the sweet-smelling oil made his service a delight.
Inasmuch as the sweetsmell made the officebearerwilling to serve, the
anointing oil was a picture of equipping him for service. The anointing setthe
officebearers apartin order that they might serve. When Samuel anointed
David to be king, we read, "ThenSamuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon
David from that day forward..." (I Sam. 16:13). Following David's anointing,
the Holy Spirit came upon David and equipped him for his office. Thus, the
anointing with the oil of gladness points to the anointing with the Holy Spirit,
who equips and strengthens officebearers to serve in office. Only in that
strength are they able to serve.
Jesus was anointedwith the oil of gladness. Thatis, He was anointed with the
Holy Spirit. Even in His childhood, Jesus was given a radicalmeasure of
wisdom and grace from the Holy Spirit: "And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him"
(Luke 2:40). As Jesus was aboutto enter His public ministry, there was
another, more dramatic anointing: "And John bare record, saying, I saw the
Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him" (John
1:32).
Strengthened for service

The reasonthat Jesus was anointedwas to equip Him for the duties of His
office. Jesus neededthe anointing powerof the Holy Spirit in His entire
earthly ministry. We might wonder why the secondpersonof the Trinity
would need the Holy Spirit. But we have to realize that Jesus had a human
nature. His human nature must be preservedfrom sin. And His human nature
must be strengthened to do God's will.
The Holy Spirit certainly strengthened Jesus in His ministry. By the powerof
the Holy Spirit, Jesus castoutdevils: "But if I castout devils by the Spirit of
God, then the kingdom of Godis come unto you" (Matt. 12:28). By the power
of the Holy Spirit, Jesus delightedto do God's will. Hebrews tells us that the
very words quoted from Psalm 40 refer to Christ: "Thensaid I, Lo, I come (in
the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God" (Heb. 10:7).
This is why Jesus couldsay, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,
and to finish his work" (John 4:34). Similarly, it was by the power of the Holy
Spirit that Jesus rose againfrom the dead: "ForChrist also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being
put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (I Pet. 3:18). It was the
anointing of the Holy Spirit that strengthened Jesus to serve in His human
nature.
Jesus lovedrighteousness and hated iniquity His whole earthly ministry. And
this faithfulness earnedHim a specialdegree of the Spirit's anointing in
heaven. Jesus, the mediator, in His human flesh must also have the Holy
Spirit's anointing in heaven. With that specialanointing, Jesus, in His human
flesh, is able to rule as He sits at the right hand of God in heaven. This is why
we read in Hebrews 1:8, "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for
ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." This
is talking about Jesus in heaven. But then, immediately following, we find the
reference to His being anointed with the oil of gladness:"Thou hast loved
righteousness, andhated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed

thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Heb. 1:9). Jesus continues to
be anointed with the oil of gladness in His state of exaltation.
Why was Jesus exaltedto such a high degree? He was exalted because allHis
life, He loved righteousness andhated iniquity. He hated iniquity so perfectly
that He never sinned, even once, His whole life long. He loved righteousness so
much that He was obedient evento the point to giving up His own life, for
righteousness sake. In other words, Jesus earnedHis position as eternalking
over His kingdom.
Now, in heaven at the right hand of God, the anointed Jesus serves as prophet,
priest, and king. As prophet, Jesus reveals the secretcounselofGod
concerning our redemption. The GoodShepherd speaks the goodnews of the
gospelto His sheep. He tells us there is salvationin Him alone. As priest, He
made the perfectsacrifice of Himself some 2,000 years ago.Now, as priest, He
presents His shed blood in God's presence. ThenHe argues, on the basis of
that shed blood, that we also deserve heavenly blessings. Jesus, ourHigh
Priest, prays for us in heaven. As king, Jesus governs us by His word and
Spirit. And He rules overall things in order to defend and preserve us in the
salvationthat He has purchased for us. Jesus faithfully carries out all the
duties of His office in heaven.
Applied to His fellows
Jesus'anointing ought to comfort us. Consider that Jesus, the anointed One,
rules in heaven for our good. The fact that Jesus enjoys the anointing of the oil
of gladness in heavenmeans that we also enjoy the same anointing here on
earth. Not just those who occupy the specialoffices ofminister, elder, and
deacon, but every believer receives the anointing of the Spirit to equip him to
serve in the office of all believers. This is why Hebrews 1:9 talks about Jesus

being anointed "above thy fellows." Jesus is anointed in greatmeasure. But
His fellows also enjoythis same anointing Spirit.
Think of that. We are fellows of Jesus Christ. We are united to Him. He is our
Head and we are members of His body. Of course, if the Head is anointed,
then the oil of gladness will flow down upon all the members of His
body.Psalm 133 talks about that precious ointment that is poured on the
Head. What does it do? It runs down the beard all the way to the skirts of His
garments, so that every member of the body is coveredwith that sweet-
smelling ointment. Since we are united to Christ, we are anointed with the oil
of gladness. Christ is anointed without measure. But by faith we are members
of Christ and therefore partakers ofHis anointing.
The result of our anointing is that we are glad. That's not to say that we wear
a permanent smile on our faces and that we are constantlybubbling over with
joy and laughter. The gladness we have is not necessarilyvisible on the
surface, like a babbling stream. Rather, our joy runs like a deep river; though
it is quiet, its current is strong and is not easily redirected. Such is the joy of
our hearts that it is not easilyaffectedby the circumstances oflife. In the most
difficult trials, we still have gladness. No matter what the outward
circumstances, we learnto be content. This is why Galatians 5 lists joy as one
of the fruits of the Spirit. But, just like every other grace that God gives us,
our joy is a fruit that is still in its beginning stages. So we must pray that God
would give us more of the oil of gladness.
Furthermore, just as the oil of gladness makes Jesusgladin His service, so too
it makes us glad to serve God. We delight in righteousness and hate iniquity.
More and more we saywith the psalmist, "O how love I thy law." More and
more we hate sin and fight againstit, so that we say, "Departfrom me, all ye
that work iniquity." Only the factthat we have been anointed with the oil of
gladness canexplain our love for God's law.

Having that anointing, we are also gladto confess the name of Jesus Christ.
Yes, the sinful flesh drags us down. Yes, our old man tries to keepus from
confessing Christ. But still we are glad to confess His name. We confess Jesus'
name with our mouths before others when we are not ashamed of the gospel.
And we make a confessionby the way that we live. We are glad to present
ourselves as living sacrifices ofthankfulness to Christ. After all, look what He
has done for us!
All this is bound up with the truth concerning Christ, the anointed One. What
a privilege to know Him and His anointing. What a privilege to be anointed
with the oil of gladness with Him. Anointed with the oil of gladness, we say
with the psalmist,
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.... Thou anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness andmercy shall follow me all the
days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever,
Ps. 23:1, 4, 5, 6.
Since we have the anointing of the oil of gladness, we are confident that it will
never be takenfrom us, but will abide with us even to the very end. Then we
shall have it in its glorious fullness.
View all Sermons
The Oil Of Gladness
Contributed by ScottCarroll on May 21, 2011

based on 8 ratings
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Scripture: Psalms 45:7-9
Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Summary: the oil of gladness is for everyone---The Holy Spirit
1 2
Next
THE OIL OF GLADNESS
3-8-09
Ps 45:7-9
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatestwickedness:therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, andcassia, outof the ivory
palaces, wherebythey have made thee glad.
9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand
did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
(KJV)
Heb 1:9

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, andhated iniquity; therefore God, even thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(KJV)
*** I want to introduce to you the dynamics of “THE OIL OF GLADNESS”
21 agalliao (ag-al-lee-ah'-o);GLADNESS—HEB 1-9
from agan(much) and 242;properly, to jump for joy, i.e. exult:
KJV-- be (exceeding)glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).
20 agalliasis (ag-al-lee'-as-is);GLADNESS—HEB1-9
from 21; exultation; specially, welcome:
KJV-- gladness, (exceeding)joy.
***Itis the place that the prophets of old have desired to see but never saw.
*** I invite you into this limitless kingdom, this limitless government.
Psalms 45:6-9 PP4
1 What God called him to he fitted him for, . The Spirit is calledthe oil of
gladness becauseofthe delight wherewithChrist was filled in carrying on his
undertaking. He was anointed with the Spirit above all his fellows, above all
those that were anointed, whether priests or kings.
2 "in recompence ofwhat thou has done and suffered for the advancementof
righteousness andthe destruction of sin God has anointed thee with the oil of
gladness, has brought thee to all the honours and all the joys of thy exalted
state.
3 " Becausehe humbled himself, God has highly exalted him, .
4 His anointing him denotes the power and glory to which he is exalted; he is
invested in all the dignities and authorities of the Messiah.

5 And his anointing him with the oil of gladness denotes the joy that was set
before him (so his exaltation is expressed, ) both in the light of his Father's
countenance
6 His robes of state, wherein he appears, are taken notice of, not for their
pomp, which might strike an awe upon the spectator, but their pleasantness
and the gratefulness of the odours with which they were perfumed (v. 8):
7 They smell of myrrh, aloes, andcassia (the oil of gladness with which he and
his garments were anointed): these were some of the ingredients of the holy
anointing oil which God appointed, the like to which was not to be made up
for any common use , which was typical of the unction of the Spirit which
Christ, the greathigh priest of our profession, received, and to which
therefore there seems here to be a reference.
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8 It is the savourof these goodointments, his gracesand comforts, that draws
souls to him and makes him precious to believers, <1 Pet. 2:7>.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
*** This describes the holy anointing oil in its five-fold compositionspeaking
of pure grace.
*** The oil must contain only the most excellentspices.
***MYRRH-
*** CINNAMON-
*** CALAMUS-
*** CASSIA-

*** OLIVE OIL-
*** But here mentioned is three componates.
1.Myrrh-a fragrant spice, of bitter taste but of sweetaroma-- It flows freely
from the tree, so figures the grace ofHis lips.
2.Aloes-a large tree with the woodcontaining a resin and an essentialoil,
constituting the perfume prized in antiquity.
3.Cassia-Reedorthe outer bark... a symbol of this same excellencyof
character, but manifest in His public walk before men.
Ps 45:7
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatestwickedness:therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
*** The word 'therefore'means basedon a condition which you have fulfilled.
*** We see in the scripture that even though Jesus was the Son of God, He
had to qualify for this dimension of anointing.
*** The test is set to prove that Jesus loved righteousness, whichmeans that
Jesus had a choice.
*** He saw all the options and said, “I choose to love righteousness andI
choose to pay the price for it”.
*** The next level is that He also hated iniquity.
*** To love righteousness withouthating iniquity is incomplete.
*** We must have a passionto hate and absolutely loath sin.
*** “THE OIL OF GLADNESS” is for those who will pass the test of loving
righteousness andhating iniquity.
*** To the level to which you love righteousness must registerin the measure
to which you hate iniquity...it is an equal exchange!
*** In other words love and hate walk together.

*** Forlove to be powerful there must be a dimension of hate.
The hate protects the love.
*** The “OIL OF GLADNESS” remains in suspensionbecause you must first
qualify yourself through the choices you make...loverighteousnessandhate
iniquity.
*** Do not compromise your love for righteousness and your hate for iniquity.
*** I encourage youto get back in the depths of the house of the Lord because
there is safety in the sanctuary.
*** The maritime navigators of old and anyone who does business in the
waterways presenttime will tell you to stay awayfrom the “Area Of
Confluence” or the merging of two rivers, because this creates turbulent and
murky water.
*** No matter how gooda swimmer you are it can easilydrown you.
*** It is a goodanalogyfor all to be aware of.
*** No matter how mature a Christian you are stay awayfrom the
convergence ofthe Kingdom of Darknessand the Kingdom of Light.
*** The uniting of two Kingdoms will create a destructive path.
*** Understand this, God is “setting you up” for a mighty move and an
incredible visitation of His presence!
*** Wonderful things are about to happen to you!
*** The past can be gone and you can enter into a seasonof“New
Beginnings”
*** If there is any doubt in your heart, question in your mind or anything that
you need, God can deal with it!
*** There is no part of your life that He cannothelp you heal.
*** There is no dream or vision that God cannothelp you fulfil.

*** God is omnipotent, all powerful and omnipresent.
*** Receive the “OIL OF GLADNESS” today!!
*** It is here to refresh you and set you apart from your fellows!!
*** It is your time to manifest far beyond your ownimagination!
*** God has come to refreshyou and make you distinguished!!
*** Take the step today and make your decisionto love righteousness and
hate iniquity.
Ps 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness:come before his presence with
singing.
Jesus Christ anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows
T. Bennet.
I. THE FELLOWSHIP THAT IS BETWEENCHRIST AND ALL TRUE
BELIEVERS.
1. Generalobservations.(1)All the fellowshipwhich any of the sons of men
have with Christ is founded in union to His person and reconciliationto God
through Him.(2) The fellowship that is betwixt Christ and believers does not
constitute an equality betweenHim and them.(3) As our Lord Jesus was alone
in the work of redemption, having no hand either of man or angelto help
Him, as lie tells us (Isaiah 63:3), so He has no partners in the glory resulting
therefrom.
II. OUR LORD'S EXALTATION, HERE CALLED HIS BEING,
ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS.
1. Preliminary remarks.(1)Our Lord's humiliation made no change with
respectto His person.(2)As His humiliation made no change in respectof His
person, so neither has His exaltation. Wherefore, whenwe speak ofHis being
exalted, He is to be considerednot as God absolutely, but as God-man

Mediator. It is only as sustaining this characterthat He could either be
humbled or exalted.
2. Some particulars wherein our Lord's exaltation doth consist.(1)It consists
in "a manifestationof the glory of His Deity in and through His humanity. As
it had been obscuredin the humanity while He was humbled, so it breaks out
in the humanity when that nature is glorified, as a candle in a dark lantern
doth through the transparent crystal, when the obscuring plate is drawn
aside." This is the glory which He prayed for (John 17:5).(2) It consists in the
raising of the human nature of Christ to an inconceivable height of glory; such
a height of glory as the human nature united to a Divine Personis capable of,
which must be by many degrees superiorto what either mere men or angels
are capable to enjoy.(3)View His exaltation as setover againstHis
humiliation (Philippians 2:8-11). In His resurrectionHe was exalted above the
grave;in His ascensionHe was exalted above the earth; and in His sessionat
the Father's right hand He was made higher than the heavens, "exaltedfar
above all heavens" (Ephesians 4:10).(4)The exaltation of Christ consists in
His being furnished in His human nature with all these gifts and endowments
of the Spirit which are suitable and necessaryto the glorious condition unto
which He is now raisedat the Father's right hand (Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8).
3. Inquire why our Lord's exaltationis called His being anointed with the oil
of gladness;or show whence it is that His exaltationdid afford Him so much
gladness.(1)His exaltation afforded Him the greatestjoy and gladness, being a
most infallible proof that God the Fatheris wellpleasedwith what He has
done.(2) Becausethenthe eternal salvationof an innumerable company of
fallen men, for whom He had an everlasting love, was effectuallysecured. And
lie was now to sit with the most consummate delight and satisfactionatthe
Father's right hand, and see the travel of His soul entering into the joy of their
Lord from every quarter under heavenaccording to the promise (Isaiah
53:11).(3)Becauseby His exaltationlie was freed from all that labour, toil and
sorrow to which lie bad been so eminently exposedin His humbled estate.
III. SHOW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR LORD JESUS MAY BE SAID TO
BE ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS, OR EXALTED ABOVE
HIS FELLOWS.

1. Jesus Christis anointed above His fellows, in regard lie is deservedly
exalted to all that glory which He now possesses as Mediator, andthat,
whether we consider His exaltation as the proper reward of His humiliation or
not.
2. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis exaltationwas effectedby His
own power, lie arose from the dead by His own power (John 2:19). "It was
not. possible for Him to be holden of death."
3. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis human nature, in virtue of its
union with His Divine Person, is capable of possessing aninconceivably
greaterdegree ofglory than any of His fellows.
4. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis exaltationeffectually secures
theirs, lie has meritoriously procured the exaltation of all His fellows by His
humiliation. And when He ascendedon high, the everlasting doors were cast
wide open, never to be shut againtill all His fellows be brought where He is
(Psalm 24:7).
5. Jesus Christis exaltedabove His fellows, inasmuch as He is to be the eternal
objectof their worship and adoration.
IV. IMPROVEMENT.
1. Of information.(1) We may see that the work of redemption as to purchase
is a finished work (Hebrews 4:10).(2)We may see that the work of redemption
is highly pleasing and delightful to God. It is called"the pleasure of the Lord"
(Isaiah 53:10). And He has given undoubted evidence that it is so in the
glorious advancementof Christ to "His own right hand," and His appointing
him "the Heir of all things."(3) We may see that the reproachand ignominy of
the cross is entirely wiped away, and the human nature greatlydignified.(4)
We may see with what holy boldness and confidence we may draw near to
God.(5)See what ample securityall true believers have for their being exalted
in duo time. Christ is exalted, and they are already exaltedin Him as their
Head and Representative (Ephesians 2:6), and they shall be exalted with Him
in their own persons;He is now "lifted up from the earth," and "will draw
them" after Him. His demand shall be fully answered(John 17:24).(6)Is Jesus

Christ exalted? Then see how vain all the attempts of hell and earth against
His work and interestmust prove in the issue.(7)See noble encouragementto
all who hear the Gospelto come to Christ for all spiritual blessings.(8)See the
dreadful sin and danger that there must be in despising Christ now that He is
highly exalted. When the sin of despising Him in His humbled estate, whenHe
appearedbut as a tender plant, and a root sprung out of a dry ground, was so
very great, it must still be more highly aggravatednow, because the Sonof
Man is now glorified.
2. Of trial.(1) What experience have you of being "planted in the likeness of
Christ's death"?(2)All who shall be exaltedto a state of glory with Christ are
first planted in the likeness ofHis resurrection (Romans 6:5).(3) If you really
expect, yea, if you in earnestdesire to be where Christ is, you are much
concernedabout being "made meet" for the glory that is to be revealed.(4)
Does the prospectof your being anointed with the oil of gladness in due time
support and comfort your hearts under presentdiscouragements?(5)All
Christ's fellow, all true believers dearly love Him. They admire His person,
and his beauty is incomparable in their esteem. Theyadmire His love, and put
the highestvalue on His righteousness.
3. Of exhortation.(1) As to you who are believers. We exhort you to bless God
for Christ, who was "deliveredfor your offences,"etc. RejoicethatChrist is
now "anointedwith the oil of gladness."His exaltation is matter of greatjoy
to all His fellows (John 14:28), both on His own account, because allHis
sorrows are now swallowedup of joy; and on their account, Because He is
gone to heaven on their business, and as their Forerunner. He is gone to
prepare a place for them, and to prepare them for the enjoyment of it, by His
Spirit. We exhort you, while you are at home in the body, and so absent from
the Lord, carefully to keepup the correspondencewhichHe settledbetwixt
Him and all His fellows before He left this world, in respectof His bodily
presence (John14:13). Be exhorted to act faithfully for Christ in your day and
generation, place and station in the world. We exhort you to look forward,
and press on through all opposing difficulties "towardthe mark for the prize
of the high calling of Godin Christ Jesus." Lift up your heads, and look out
for the day of your complete redemption (Isaiah 35:10;John 14:3).(2)We
exhort you, who are yet in a natural state and condition, to lay to heart the sin

you stand chargeable with, the misery you are under, and the wrath to which
you are exposed.
(T. Bennet.)
Jesus Christ anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows
T. Bennet.
I. THE FELLOWSHIP THAT IS BETWEENCHRIST AND ALL TRUE
BELIEVERS.
1. Generalobservations.(1)All the fellowshipwhich any of the sons of men
have with Christ is founded in union to His person and reconciliationto God
through Him.(2) The fellowship that is betwixt Christ and believers does not
constitute an equality betweenHim and them.(3) As our Lord Jesus was alone
in the work of redemption, having no hand either of man or angelto help
Him, as lie tells us (Isaiah 63:3), so He has no partners in the glory resulting
therefrom.
II. OUR LORD'S EXALTATION, HERE CALLED HIS BEING,
ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS.
1. Preliminary remarks.(1)Our Lord's humiliation made no change with
respectto His person.(2)As His humiliation made no change in respectof His
person, so neither has His exaltation. Wherefore, whenwe speak ofHis being
exalted, He is to be considerednot as God absolutely, but as God-man
Mediator. It is only as sustaining this characterthat He could either be
humbled or exalted.
2. Some particulars wherein our Lord's exaltation doth consist.(1)It consists
in "a manifestationof the glory of His Deity in and through His humanity. As
it had been obscuredin the humanity while He was humbled, so it breaks out
in the humanity when that nature is glorified, as a candle in a dark lantern
doth through the transparent crystal, when the obscuring plate is drawn
aside." This is the glory which He prayed for (John 17:5).(2) It consists in the
raising of the human nature of Christ to an inconceivable height of glory; such

a height of glory as the human nature united to a Divine Personis capable of,
which must be by many degrees superiorto what either mere men or angels
are capable to enjoy.(3)View His exaltation as setover againstHis
humiliation (Philippians 2:8-11). In His resurrectionHe was exalted above the
grave;in His ascensionHe was exalted above the earth; and in His sessionat
the Father's right hand He was made higher than the heavens, "exaltedfar
above all heavens" (Ephesians 4:10).(4)The exaltation of Christ consists in
His being furnished in His human nature with all these gifts and endowments
of the Spirit which are suitable and necessaryto the glorious condition unto
which He is now raisedat the Father's right hand (Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8).
3. Inquire why our Lord's exaltationis called His being anointed with the oil
of gladness;or show whence it is that His exaltationdid afford Him so much
gladness.(1)His exaltation afforded Him the greatestjoy and gladness, being a
most infallible proof that God the Fatheris wellpleasedwith what He has
done.(2) Becausethenthe eternal salvationof an innumerable company of
fallen men, for whom He had an everlasting love, was effectuallysecured. And
lie was now to sit with the most consummate delight and satisfactionatthe
Father's right hand, and see the travel of His soul entering into the joy of their
Lord from every quarter under heavenaccording to the promise (Isaiah
53:11).(3)Becauseby His exaltationlie was freed from all that labour, toil and
sorrow to which lie bad been so eminently exposedin His humbled estate.
III. SHOW IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR LORD JESUS MAY BE SAID TO
BE ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS, OR EXALTED ABOVE
HIS FELLOWS.
1. Jesus Christis anointed above His fellows, in regard lie is deservedly
exalted to all that glory which He now possesses as Mediator, andthat,
whether we consider His exaltation as the proper reward of His humiliation or
not.
2. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis exaltationwas effectedby His
own power, lie arose from the dead by His own power (John 2:19). "It was
not. possible for Him to be holden of death."

3. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis human nature, in virtue of its
union with His Divine Person, is capable of possessing aninconceivably
greaterdegree ofglory than any of His fellows.
4. He is exalted above His fellows, in regardHis exaltationeffectually secures
theirs, lie has meritoriously procured the exaltation of all His fellows by His
humiliation. And when He ascendedon high, the everlasting doors were cast
wide open, never to be shut againtill all His fellows be brought where He is
(Psalm 24:7).
5. Jesus Christis exaltedabove His fellows, inasmuch as He is to be the eternal
objectof their worship and adoration.
IV. IMPROVEMENT.
1. Of information.(1) We may see that the work of redemption as to purchase
is a finished work (Hebrews 4:10).(2)We may see that the work of redemption
is highly pleasing and delightful to God. It is called"the pleasure of the Lord"
(Isaiah 53:10). And He has given undoubted evidence that it is so in the
glorious advancementof Christ to "His own right hand," and His appointing
him "the Heir of all things."(3) We may see that the reproachand ignominy of
the cross is entirely wiped away, and the human nature greatlydignified.(4)
We may see with what holy boldness and confidence we may draw near to
God.(5)See what ample securityall true believers have for their being exalted
in duo time. Christ is exalted, and they are already exaltedin Him as their
Head and Representative (Ephesians 2:6), and they shall be exalted with Him
in their own persons;He is now "lifted up from the earth," and "will draw
them" after Him. His demand shall be fully answered(John 17:24).(6)Is Jesus
Christ exalted? Then see how vain all the attempts of hell and earth against
His work and interestmust prove in the issue.(7)See noble encouragementto
all who hear the Gospelto come to Christ for all spiritual blessings.(8)See the
dreadful sin and danger that there must be in despising Christ now that He is
highly exalted. When the sin of despising Him in His humbled estate, whenHe
appearedbut as a tender plant, and a root sprung out of a dry ground, was so
very great, it must still be more highly aggravatednow, because the Sonof
Man is now glorified.

2. Of trial.(1) What experience have you of being "planted in the likeness of
Christ's death"?(2)All who shall be exaltedto a state of glory with Christ are
first planted in the likeness ofHis resurrection (Romans 6:5).(3) If you really
expect, yea, if you in earnestdesire to be where Christ is, you are much
concernedabout being "made meet" for the glory that is to be revealed.(4)
Does the prospectof your being anointed with the oil of gladness in due time
support and comfort your hearts under presentdiscouragements?(5)All
Christ's fellow, all true believers dearly love Him. They admire His person,
and his beauty is incomparable in their esteem. Theyadmire His love, and put
the highestvalue on His righteousness.
3. Of exhortation.(1) As to you who are believers. We exhort you to bless God
for Christ, who was "deliveredfor your offences,"etc. RejoicethatChrist is
now "anointedwith the oil of gladness."His exaltation is matter of greatjoy
to all His fellows (John 14:28), both on His own account, because allHis
sorrows are now swallowedup of joy; and on their account, Because He is
gone to heaven on their business, and as their Forerunner. He is gone to
prepare a place for them, and to prepare them for the enjoyment of it, by His
Spirit. We exhort you, while you are at home in the body, and so absent from
the Lord, carefully to keepup the correspondencewhichHe settledbetwixt
Him and all His fellows before He left this world, in respectof His bodily
presence (John14:13). Be exhorted to act faithfully for Christ in your day and
generation, place and station in the world. We exhort you to look forward,
and press on through all opposing difficulties "towardthe mark for the prize
of the high calling of Godin Christ Jesus." Lift up your heads, and look out
for the day of your complete redemption (Isaiah 35:10;John 14:3).(2)We
exhort you, who are yet in a natural state and condition, to lay to heart the sin
you stand chargeable with, the misery you are under, and the wrath to which
you are exposed.
(T. Bennet.)

The holy spirit of joy and gladness

The holy spirit of joy and gladness

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