When He Is Come - Media Sabda Org

Christ, the Great High Priest. The oil was a rich and beautiful type of the Holy Spirit. We read, "And
he [Moses] poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head" (Lev. 8:12). Also, "It is like the precious
ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the
skirts of his garments" (Psalm 133:2). Moses dressed Aaron in the garments of beauty and holiness.
They stood in the entrance of the court of the tabernacle, with all Israel witnessing this important
event. Moses took the precious anointing oil, which was highly perfumed, and without stating the
amount (which makes it all the more interesting), poured it upon the head of Aaron. Oil runs where
it is not sought. The fragrance may have been inhaled by all Israel as it was borne from the person
of Aaron by the breeze. The oil dripped from Aaron's brow, ears, beard, finger tips, and feet.
Wherever he went there were drippings of oil which left a fragrance. Now, Aaron was ready to begin
his priestly ministry.
One of the most beautiful and inspiring New Testament scenes and events was the anointing of
Christ with the Holy Spirit by the Father. John the Baptist had baptized Christ in Jordan, and when
Christ came out of the water, we read, "And, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:16, 17). This event is recorded by the
four Gospel writers in Matt. 3:16, 17; Mk. 1:10; Luke 3:22, and John 1:32. The Spirit "descended"
and "lighted" upon Him (Matt. 3:16), "abode" upon Him (John 1:32), and "rested" upon Him (Isa.
11:2). "Abode" means remained, dwelt, made His home, and continued with Christ. From then on
until Pentecost, the Spirit resided and remained on Christ. Isaiah prophesied of the sevenfold fullness
of the Spirit Who would "rest" upon Him: namely, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom, the
Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of knowledge, and the
Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Isa. 11:2). From Zech. 4:2, and Rev. 4:5, we learn that the seven Spirits
refer to the Holy Spirit. Seven symbolizes fullness, completion, and perfection. John the Baptist
witnessed the fulfillment of this prophecy. He said, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like
a dove, and it abode upon him" (John 1:32). The prophecy of Isaiah 61:1, "The Spirit of the Lord
God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted ... "was given to Isaiah by the second Person of the Trinity, and
fulfilled in Matt. 3:16, and Luke 4:18-21. Christ quoted this prophecy in the first person, stating its
fulfillment in Him. Another interesting fact is, as the oil poured upon Aaron was not measured, so
"God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (John 3:34). What actually happened was this: the
Holy Spirit removed from the heavens and descended upon Christ to "rest upon him," to "abide upon
him" (Isa. 11:2; John 1:32), to reside in Him in all of His personality, in all of His power, in all of
His gifts, in all of His graces, and in all of His wisdom, to qualify Christ as Man for His life's work
on earth. Never before in all the history of the world had anything exactly like this taken place. The
Spirit came on Old Testament saints for service, but not to "rest," or to "abide" as He did in Christ.
Good as the great saints were throughout the Old Testament period, the Spirit could not find one to
whom He might come without measure and as a dove to abide. Only in Christ could be fulfilled the
prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit in His measureless power, gifts, and graces. If the Spirit in
all of His power, gifts, and graces had descended and rested upon any man prior to the anointing of
Christ, he could not have endured such an outpouring. Christ, the sinless, holy Man could endure this
and become a resting place for the Spirit. He possessed the capacity and possibility, for He was
sinless, and the Son of God, as well as the Son of Man. Men do not possess the great capacity Christ
did, nor an original sinlessness, neither holiness.