“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
(Acts 10:38)
Christ was anointed for His mediatorial office by the Holy Ghost. Which means that although He was, of course, holy from the beginning and without sin as the Son of God, in His human nature He was furnished with all those gifts and graces necessary for the unique work appointed to Him. Wisdom, power, and holiness shone perfectly in Him for the redemption of His people.
His wisdom appeared in His doctrine. Scripture tells us that He did not teach as the scribes did, but as one having authority. He spoke as the One sent and appointed by the Father. No confusion, error, darkness, or uncertainty marked his teaching. He possessed the wisdom required for the office He bore and communicated divine truth with authority that astonished those who heard Him.[1]
His power appeared in His mighty works. He went about doing good and healing those oppressed of the devil. His miracles were true manifestations of the divine power attending His person and mission. He was mighty in deed and word, sufficient for ever sickness, affliction, demonic oppression, and every obstacle brought before Him because God was with Him and because He was appointed to the work entrusted to Him.
His holiness was equally necessary. Christ had neither original nor actual sin, for He was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost. Such holiness was necessary because a sinner could not make satisfaction for another sinner. The Mediator had to be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners if He was to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice.
All three persons of the Godhead concurred in His consecration to this work. The Father sanctified and sent Him into the world. The Spirit furnished His human nature with the graces and endowments suited to His office. The Son sanctified Himself, showing both His divine authority and His willing submission to the work appointed Him in the eternal counsel of God.
The glory of Christ therefore appears not only in being qualified for His office, but in embracing it willingly. He possessed the wisdom to teach, the power to act, the holiness to sacrifice, and the love to submit freely to suffering. Our anointed Mediator entered fully, knowingly, and willingly into all that was necessary for the redemption of His people.
Contemplations:
- You Were Perfectly Fitted for the Work You Came to Do. I adore You because nothing necessary for Your mediatorial work was lacking. You possessed perfect wisdom, power, and holiness. There was no defect in Your understanding, no weakness in Your ability, and no stain in Your nature. Every qualification required for the redemption of sinners was found in You without measure.
- Your Holiness Made Your Sacrifice Fit. You had no original sin and committed no actual sin. I adore You as the holy, harmless, undefiled High Priest who alone could stand in the place of sinners. Because no guilt belonged to You, You could bear the guilt of others. Your spotless holiness magnifies the perfection of the sacrifice You offered.
- You Gave Yourself Willingly. I worship You because You came willingly, suffered willingly, and laid down Your life willingly. Your love did not weaken when suffering drew near. You loved Your own unto the end. Let this willing obedience make Your sacrifice all the more precious in my sight.
- You Went About Doing Good. Your power was never self-serving. You used it in mercy, healing, delivering, teaching, and doing good. I adore the union of power and goodness in You. Your strength was always exercised in works that displayed compassion, truth, and salvation.
Prayer (Adoration):
Lord Jesus Christ, I adore You as the One anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power.
I worship You for the perfect fitness of Your Son for the work of redemption. In Your human nature You were furnished with wisdom, power, and holiness sufficient for every part of Your mediatorial office.
I adore the wisdom revealed in Your doctrine. You taught with authority, purity, and truth. No error darkened Your words.
I adore the power manifested in Your mighty works. You went about doing good, healing the afflicted and delivering those oppressed by the devil.
I worship Your perfect holiness. No original corruption belonged to You, and no actual sin ever stained You. You were holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners, perfectly fitted to offer Yourself as the sacrifice we needed and God required.
I praise You also for Your willingness. The Father sent You, the Spirit furnished You, and You willingly sanctified Yourself for the work. You did not enter suffering by constraint. You came to do the will of God and laid down Your life of Yourself.
I adore You as the perfectly qualified, perfectly holy, perfectly powerful, and perfectly willing Mediator.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References:
Matt. 4:23; Luke 4:18; John 3:2; Acts 4:27
[1] Thomas Manton, A Second Volume of Sermons, (London: J. Astwood for Jonathan Robinson .., 1684), 286.
