The Unmeasuredness of the Spirit in Christ

For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, forGod

giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” — Joun iii, 34.

He is looking on the outpouring of the

Spirit on Jesus and he sees something unique. All the other outpourings of the Spirit had been limited — measured by the needs of a special time. Great men had been raised up with powers sufficient to do a particular work, and when that work was done they had been called ‘‘the ancients.” But here was an out- pouring on a single soul of gifts commensurate with aif time; God gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him. It was a wonderful vision, and it has had a yet more wonderful realisation. I have not yet found the measure, the limit of the gifts of Jesus. They are as much adapted to the nineteenth century as to the first. The days of His flesh are long fled and have left nothing of their life behind. The men who stood beside Him have become but monuments — grand to look at, but powerless to act or move. Yet here He stands, a living presence still, His eye undimmed, His natural strength unabated. The flight of years has not exhausted His energies. The advent of new thoughts has not tarnished His freshness. The change in public taste has not marred His beauty. The fading of past theologies has not diminished His glory. He is not superannuated by time; He is still what the evangelist of old called Him, “Jesus Christ our forerunner.” He runs before us; He is in advance of us; like the Star of the East He always leads the way; we shall never in the race of progress come up to His measureless glory.

Spirit of Christ, Thou Star of the East, Thou forerunner of our humanity, lead on. We are seeking to be emancipated from the trammels of the past; Thou who art measureless, lead on. We are aspiring to be free from temporary creeds and systems; Thou who art limitless, lead on. Lead us to all things that cannot be measured — the peace that passeth understanding, the love that passeth knowledge, the joy that passeth utterance. Lead us to the fulness of the time, the brotherhood of man, the concord of the nations. Lead us to the boundlessness of hope, the endlessness of charity, the unstintedness of benevolence. Lead us to the day when every valley shall be exalted, every mountain brought low, every rough place made plain. When we are broadened by Thy measureless Spirit we shall reach the Promised Land.