The exaltation of Christ and the baptism of the Spirit are two facts which distinguish Christianity and which outshine all others on the day of its birth.
It was reserved, however, for the Apostle Paul to unfold, in its fullness, "the glorious gospel of Christ." (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).) The melody of the glad tidings, which Paul is pleased to call "my gospel," was the proclamation of a Man in the glory.
The Man in the glory is the chief element of "the mystery" which, presented fully in Ephesians and Colossians, completes the Word of God. It filled up the whole circle of Scripture subjects. If he published His humiliation and His passion, he was not content until he presented Jesus as the Man in glory. The Old Testament might speak of His exaltation to the Hill of Zion, but He who as Man could satisfy and glorify God about sin, He would exalt to the highest, brightest place in His universe. Zion's Hill was not high enough for that blessed One who "humbled Himself unto death, even the death of the cross." He must have a place far above all heavens (Eph. 1;4).
First you have Him presented in Scripture in His divine glory as Son of God among men, a deeply blessed truth holding the heart with delight. Then when the cross is past, the grave left and the victory won, the Spirit of God is pleased to dwell on a truth never before named in Scripture—truth which is the outstanding characteristic of Christianity. It is a Man in the glory of God, consequent upon the finished work of the cross where our sins were borne and God glorified.
The Man of Sycar is the center of this bright and blessed scene. How much hangs upon this for His own. The work, in virtue of which He is there, was for us, so we are to be His companions in that glory. Draw the veil and hear Him speaking to His Father, "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory." (See also Heb. 2:1010For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10); Rom. 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2); Rev. 21:9-279And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. 25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:9‑27).)
Who can read the Acts (a supplement to the gospels, an introduction to the epistles, and a history of the Church in the beginning) without recognizing the presence, indwelling, operation and guidance of the Holy Spirit? That the Spirit wrought in creation and in all dispensations is true as numerous scriptures in the Old and New Testaments witness, but not until a glorified Christ sent Him, had the Spirit come to indwell believers.
It is John, however, who records for us, "This spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39). In this we see the intimate relation between Jesus being glorified and the Spirit coming. They cannot be separated. We see that at this time the gift of the Spirit was yet future and dependent upon His having His place in glory. Immediately Jesus is up there, the Spirit is down here (Acts 2:3333Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33)) with and in believers. He had spoken anticipatively in John 14:16,1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17) saying, "But ye know Him [the Spirit]; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Acts 2 gives us the fulfillment of this. As "with" them, He fills all the house where they are sitting. As "in" them, they are all filled with the Holy Spirit. Would to God it could be said of all who profess His name: "Ye know Him."
F. C. Blount