03/30/2021
Is Jesus the most sanctified one, and the anointed one in our lives? Have we anointed Him to be our teacher, our savior, our king, the most holy one, and so much more? Today is the third day of Holy Week, and after teaching all day, Jesus was reclining at dinner when a woman approached, and anointed Him with expensive oil. This was more than a nice gesture, she was sanctifying Him, blessing Him, and awarding Him the highest honor in her life. Although we have acknowledged Jesus for who He is, and call Him our Lord, have we actually anointed Him as such? Have we bound ourselves to Him before God?
“a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.”
Matthew 26:7 ESV
Oil in religious offerings symbolized sanctification, consecration, a holy assignment, and was used in most every offering given in the temple; some included a jar of oil, but others such as grain, meal, and food offerings had oil poured into them. In other ceremonies it symbolized the divine selection of someone for a task, or to a position such as a deacon, prophet, priest, or later, as a king.
So back to our original question... is Jesus the anointed one in our lives? Have we applied fine oil to those things in our daily life that are Holy, and that represent our faith as we honor Him? Do we anoint the sick, or the blessed, and most of all... do we consider Jesus Himself as being anointed spiritually by the Holy Spirit in our lives, and by God to be our Lord, and all in all?
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Acts 10:38 ESV
It is one thing to select a king, or a president, but until they have been coronated, or made official by an inauguration, or swearing in, they have no authority. It is the same with religious posts... a ceremony that includes anointing makes pastors, priests, and other men and women of Faith official. This anointing can be done by another person of faith such as when Samuel anointed Saul, or by God... as we have just read in the scripture regarding Jesus.
So in the story of the woman pouring oil over the head of Jesus there is much significance, and yet it seems to be totally lost on the disciples who witnessed this happening...
“And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.””
Matthew 26:8-9 ESV
As far as we know from scripture the woman (Mary) was not aware that Jesus was about to die, so her anointing of Him was a purely personal act, but Jesus saw it in a much different light... He saw the anointing as preparing Him for His death; listen.
“But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.”
Matthew 26:10-12 ESV
So we know of three things that this anointing accomplished, it sanctified Christ in the woman’s life, it prepared Jesus for death in His eyes, and it appeared so wasteful to the disciples that it prompted Judas to betray Christ. Anointing is a complex and powerful act of faith, so let’s go back again to the question... is Jesus the anointed one in our lives?
“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.”
Matthew 26:14-15 ESV
We can’t physically anoint Jesus with oil (at least not yet), but we can accept the anointing that was performed by God, and the woman in our story, as being equally valid in our own lives. We can also pray that the Holy Spirit, who is with us, will conduct an anointing in our name as Jesus abides within us. Our sanctification of Jesus in our lives is not some trivial ceremony of anointing that we conduct, it takes on levels of significance that are far beyond our understanding, or the knowledge we have of its importance. Listen as Jesus speaks again of this woman’s spiritual act...
“Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.””
Matthew 26:13 ESV
What will be told of us in heaven? Will the anointing of Jesus in our lives be remembered throughout all eternity? Will God smile as he remembers the moment we prayed that Christ be anointed for us by the Holy Spirit? Will He be pleased that the Bible we read has been made holy with oil, the child we anointed is now blessed, or the sick person we anointed as we prayed in the name of Jesus was healed? All of these anointed things will have become forevermore Holy in His sight, but none with more significance than the anointing of Jesus in our lives.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus, and we thank you for allowing us to claim an Amen to your anointing of Him as we wait to anoint Him ourselves with oil, and to call Him Holy while praising Him face to face. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that is in us, and who not only prays for us when we have no words, but intercedes for us by anointing Jesus in our stead. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who blesses and anoints those who love and are called to serve you. Praised be your name for every blessing we receive from you, and the ever present scent of oil that wafts about us. Great are you who seats prophets, priests, and kings. Merciful are you who heals the sick with an elder’s prayer, and a touch of anointing oil. Gracious are you who sent your Son to redeem us, and to anoint us with your grace, and the Holy Spirit. Hear our prayers, and taste our tears, Father as we seek to anoint Jesus as our Lord, and Savior. Wash us with His blood, and sanctify us so that we will be righteous in your eyes. In this way find us worthy Lord, and accept us at your table, and into your company forevermore.
Rich Forbes