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I. THE FELLOWSHIP THAT IS BETWEEN CHRIST AND ALL TRUE BELIEVERS.

1. General observations.

(1) All the fellowship which any of the sons of men have with Christ is founded in union to His person and reconciliation to God through Him.

(2) The fellowship that is betwixt Christ and believers does not constitute an equality between Him and them.

(3) As our Lord Jesus was alone in the work of redemption, having no hand either of man or angel to 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 respect to His person.

(2) As His humiliation made no change in respect of His person, so neither has His exaltation. Wherefore, when we speak of His being exalted, He is to be considered not as God absolutely, but as God-man Mediator. It is only as sustaining this character that He could either be humbled or exalted.

2. Some particulars wherein our Lord's exaltation doth consist.

(1) It consists in "a manifestation of the glory of His Deity in and through His humanity. As it had been obscured in 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 Person is capable of, which must be by many degrees superior to what either mere men or angels are capable to enjoy.

(3) View His exaltation as set over against His humiliation (Philippians 2:8-11). In His resurrection He was exalted above the grave; in His ascension He was exalted above the earth; and in His session at the Father's right hand He was made higher than the heavens, "exalted far 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 necessary to the glorious condition unto which He is now raised at the Father's right hand (Acts 2:33; Ephesians 4:8).

3. Inquire why our Lord's exaltation is called His being anointed with the oil of gladness; or show whence it is that His exaltation did afford Him so much gladness.

(1) His exaltation afforded Him the greatest joy and gladness, being a most infallible proof that God the Father is well pleased with what He has done.

(2) Because then the eternal salvation of an innumerable company of fallen men, for whom He had an everlasting love, was effectually secured. And lie was now to sit with the most consummate delight and satisfaction at the Father's right hand, and see the travel of His soul entering into the joy of their Lord from every quarter under heaven according to the promise (Isaiah 53:11).

(3) Because by His exaltation lie was freed from all that labour, toil and sorrow to which lie bad been so eminently exposed in 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 Christ is anointed above His fellows, in regard lie is deservedly exalted to all that glory which He now possesses as Mediator, and that, whether we consider His exaltation as the proper reward of His humiliation or not.

2. He is exalted above His fellows, in regard His exaltation was effected by 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 regard His human nature, in virtue of its union with His Divine Person, is capable of possessing an inconceivably greater degree of glory than any of His fellows.

4. He is exalted above His fellows, in regard His exaltation effectually secures theirs, lie has meritoriously procured the exaltation of all His fellows by His humiliation. And when He ascended on high, the everlasting doors were cast wide open, never to be shut again till all His fellows be brought where He is (Psalm 24:7).

5. Jesus Christ is exalted above His fellows, inasmuch as He is to be the eternal object of 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 advancement of Christ to "His own right hand," and His appointing him "the Heir of all things."(3) We may see that the reproach and ignominy of the cross is entirely wiped away, and the human nature greatly dignified.

(4) We may see with what holy boldness and confidence we may draw near to God.

(5) See what ample security all true believers have for their being exalted in duo time. Christ is exalted, and they are already exalted in 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 interest must prove in the issue.

(7) See noble encouragement to all who hear the Gospel to 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, when He appeared but as a tender plant, and a root sprung out of a dry ground, was so very great, it must still be more highly aggravated now, because the Son of 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 exalted to a state of glory with Christ are first planted in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5).

(3) If you really expect, yea, if you in earnest desire to be where Christ is, you are much concerned about being "made meet" for the glory that is to be revealed.

(4) Does the prospect of your being anointed with the oil of gladness in due time support and comfort your hearts under present discouragements?

(5) All Christ's fellow, all true believers dearly love Him. They admire His person, and his beauty is incomparable in their esteem. They admire His love, and put the highest value on His righteousness.

3. Of exhortation.

(1) As to you who are believers. We exhort you to bless God for Christ, who was "delivered for your offences," etc. Rejoice that Christ is now "anointed with the oil of gladness." His exaltation is matter of great joy to all His fellows (John 14:28), both on His own account, because all His sorrows are now swallowed up 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 keep up the correspondence which He settled betwixt Him and all His fellows before He left this world, in respect of His bodily presence (John 14:13). 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 "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in 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.)

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KJV: Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

WEB: You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.