Anoint. There’s a word we don’t use every day. It means “set apart.” When you anoint something, you dedicate it for special use. The high priest, the temple, and the things in the temple were anointed for special service. Christians anoint the sick by placing olive oil on their foreheads, following James 5:14. Others anoint houses, dabbing oil on the frames of each room and praying for the building and those who will enter it.
Samuel anointed young David by pouring oil over his head while speaking great words.
Prophets, priests, and kings were all anointed. The dead were anointed.
Jesus was anointed. The word “Messiah” means “the anointed One.” Hebrews says he was “anointed with the oil of joy above all His brethren,” making Him the most joyful man who ever lived.
Jesus was physically anointed twice within a matter of days:
“Jesus came to … Lazarus’s [home]… so they gave a dinner for Him… Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” [Judas complained.] Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has done it for the day of my burial” John 12:1-7.
“While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon… a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.” [There were complaints.] Jesus said, “Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for Me… By pouring fragrant oil on Me, she has prepared My body for burial” Matthew 26:6-12.
If I had been there, would I be the anoint-er, or the critic?
Can you support passionate, outlandish worship, or does it make you uncomfortable?
Are you David, dancing when the Ark was returned, or his wife Michal, who scorned his worship and was punished by God with infertility?
Dear God, help us love Jesus with passion that would anoint His head and feet with oil. Help us worship more and judge less.
ΑΩ
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