The Spirit's Glorification of Christ
“For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus wag not yet glorified.” — JOHN vii. 39.
HOW shall I know whether the Holy Ghost — has been given tome? Is there any test by which I can judge of its presence or absence? The passage before us says that there is. It says that the Holy Ghost was not given “because Jesus was not glorified.” The proof of the Spirit’s absence is an unglorified Christ; the proof of its presence is a Christ who is honoured. My soul, hast thou considered this test of the Spirit within Thee? Thou art asking often anxiously for a sign of thy union with the Spirit. Thine outward life lags so far behind that it often seems to thee as if God had passed thee by. Yet in these words there is a mine of rich comfort for thee. The first test of the Spirit is not the outward life but the inward ideal. The life may lag behind, but the ideal can run on before to herald its coming. Thy test of God within thee is the question, Is Jesus glorified? Is there hung up in thy heart a picture of the sinless One? He may be far yet from the tread of thy footsteps, but is His image in thy soul? Hast thou in the great world of bustle and conflict moments of aspiration towards Him? Are there times in which His presence flits through thy spirit and makes thee glad? Are there seasons in which thou sayest to thyself, “Oh to be like Him! to be near Him! to be even in the smailest sense partaker of His holiness!” Then within thy heart Jesus is already glorified. He may not yet be glorified in thy world, our actions travel slower than our sentiments. But, if already He lives thus in thine aspirations, He has had His coronation in thy heart. The heart is the metropolis of His empire; crown Him there and thou hast ensured His dominion everywhere. Art thou following Him in sferit? Art thou desiring Him, admiring Him, emulating Him? Art thou making him an ideal which thou wouldst like to hope for, to long for, to strive for? Then thou hast the test of the Spirit. Thou couldst not see Him as He is if thou wert not like Him. If thy pulse beats quicker at His presence, it is because His life is in thee; the Holy Ghost must have been given thee, because Jesus is glorified.