Anointed

Although anointing might occur in many different circumstances the general meaning tends to be consistent, whomever is anointed is dedicated to the service of and obedience to God. The Bible makes clear from the outset that God alone is King of Israel. God defeats the forces of chaos and establishes creation; thus God has "made the world firm, not to be moved". Psalms 89:12,13; 93:3,4. By such divine actions, God's rule is established, a rule of peace and life. Psalms 29:10,11; 89:10,11; 93:3,4, characterized above all by "justice and judgment" which are "the foundation of his throne". Psalms 89:15; 97:1,2; 99:4. And this same God, who is King of all creation, is also King, Jehovah his God is with him, And the loud hailing of a king is in his midst. Numbers 23:21. The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom YOU slew, hanging him upon a tree. God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy spirit, which God has given to those obeying him as ruler." Acts 5:30-32

You may have heard or read a statement such as this: "The Jewish people at the time of Jesus were eagerly expecting a messiah who would throw out the Romans and reestablish the house of David." To save them and live on earth. While such remarks are fairly common, more recent study of the writings that survive from this period indicates that the situation was considerably more complex. Some did expect such a messiah; others, however, thought that a heavenly figure of some kind would bring in God's kingdom; still others expected several endtime figures: an anointed king, an anointed priest, as well as a prophetic figure; still others did not expect anything soon. The early followers of Jesus of Nazareth saw in him the fulfillment of God's promise to David. He brought in God's kingdom of peace, justice and love. And it was precisely this faith, that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ (christos occurs over 350 times in the New Testament, that gave them a name: Christians, Acts 11:26. They firmly believed that Jesus was the Son of David. Romans 1:3; Luke 1:31-32, from the city of David, Bethlehem. Luke 2:4; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Micah 5:1-4. In Luke's Gospel, when Jesus begins his public ministry, he reads in the synagogue and comments on a passage from the book of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor" Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18. In its original context, the passage refers to the anointing of the prophet, but the figure of the promised Messiah, the kingly anointed one, is also implied in Jesus' usage of the text. Bringing relief to the poor, to captives and to the oppressed is part of the traditional work of the king. This was, in a way, part of the job description of the Davidic king. Later, when John the Baptist, from prison, sends some followers to question Jesus, Jesus points to this same concern as evidence of his mission. Luke 7:18-23; Matthew 11:2-6. Jesus' ministry was one of proclaiming the kingdom of God in both word and action; his miracles of healing were signs of God's compassion. At the end of his life, as he entered Jerusalem, he was acclaimed king: "Hosanna to the Son of David!". Matthew 2:1-11. Before Pilate, much of the discussion centered on the issue of kingship. John 18:28-19:16, and Jesus clarifies that his kingship is different. John 18:36. He was crucified under the inscription, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". John 19:19. There was nothing in the Jewish Scriptures to prepare for the idea that the Messiah, the son of David, would be put to death. The early Christians explained this by combining, with the royal figure of the Messiah, a figure originally quite distinct, a suffering servant. Isaiah 52:13;—53:12 . When Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus immediately qualifies this in the direction of suffering service to others. Mark 8:27-33. The early Christians affirmed further that this Jesus, the Messiah/Christ, will come again at the end of age to bring in the fullness of God's kingdom, and when that happens, then he will come in power and glory. (e.g., Mt 24:29-31; Mr 13:24-27), and all creation will acknowledge his kingship. For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Philemon 2:9-11

Which means that they are made spiritually pure, a necessary condition for the service of Jehovah God.The NT Greek words for anoint is "chrio" which means "to smear or rub with oil, and by implication to consecrate" and "aleipho" which means "to anoint." Serve Jehovah with fear And be joyful with trembling. Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed And YOU may not perish [from] the way, For his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him. Ps 2:11,2

In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or a call on that person’s life. Ex 29:7; Ex 40:9; 2 Ki 9:6; Ec 9:8; A person was anointed for a special purpose; to be a king, or a prophet. Another meaning for the word "anointed" is "chosen one, or one's" Mt 22:14;Jas 5:14. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility] Who, although being essentially One with the Father God] and in the form of God possessing the fullness of the wisdom of God], did not think himself equal to God, But stripped himself [of all privileges], so he emptied himself out into a slaves form , in that he became in the likeness of men. Php 2:5-7

Jesus Christ was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News and free those who have been held captive by sin, Lu 4:18-19, Ac 10:38. Before Christ left the earth he said "If YOU love me, YOU will observe my commandments; and I will request the Father and he will give YOU another helper to be with YOU forever, the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither beholds it nor knows it. YOU know it, because it remains with YOU and is in YOU. Joh 14:16,17

Those that are anointed, chosen for a specific purpose in furthering God's Kingdom, 1 Joh 2:20. But he who guarantees that YOU and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts. As for YOU, let that which YOU have heard from [the] beginning remain in YOU. If that which YOU have heard from [the] beginning remains in YOU, YOU will also abide in union with the Son and in union with the Father. Furthermore, this is the promised thing that he himself promised us, the life everlasting. These things I write YOU about those who are trying to mislead YOU. And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU,and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU; but, as the anointing from him is teaching YOU about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught YOU, remain in union with him. 1 Jo 2:24-27

There is no one holy like Jehovah, for there is no one but you; And there is no Rock like our God. As for Jehovah, those contending against him will be terrified; Against them he will thunder in the heavens. Jehovah himself will judge the ends of the earth, That he may give strength to his king,That he may exalt the horn of his anointed one." 1 Sa 2:2,10. [Saying,] ‘Do not YOU men touch my anointed ones, And to my prophets do nothing bad.’ 1 Ch 16:22

Now I do know that Jehovah certainly saves his anointed one. He answers him from his holy heavens With the saving mighty acts of his right hand. For you proceeded to meet him with blessings of good, [And] to place on his head a crown of refined gold. Life he asked of you. You gave [it] to him, Length of days to time indefinite, even forever. His glory is great in your salvation. Dignity and splendor you putupon him. For you constitute him highly blessed forever; You make him feel glad with the rejoicing at your face. For the king is trusting in Jehovah, Even in the loving-kindness of the Most High. He will not be caused to totter. Your hand will find all your enemies, Your own right hand will find those hating you. You will constitute them asa fiery furnace at the appointed time for your attention. Ps 21:3-9. Jehovah is a strength to his people, And he is a stronghold of the grand salvation of his anointed one. Ps 20:6; 28:8; Isa 64:8,9

"And you, O Beth´le·hem Eph´ra·thah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite.

"Therefore he will give them up until the time that she who is giving birth actually gives birth. And the rest of his brothers will return to the sons of Israel."And he will certainly stand and do shepherding in the strength of Jehovah, in the superiority of the name of Jehovah his God. Mic 5:2-4

But he who guarantees that YOU and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God. Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear. 2 Co 1:21; 7:1. Paul wrote to the Philippians saying that he did not consider himself as having laid hold on the prize, but he was pursuing the upward call to see if he might attain it. However, several years later Paul wrote to Timothy saying that he felt he had as good as received his reward. In other words he had been sealed. 2 Ti 4:6-8

These are the righteous purposes of Jehovah God. If you suppose that the "things in the heavens" are angels, you would have to explain why Christ would need to gather angels to himself. No, "the things in the heavens" actually refers to the anointed; even while they are on the earth. That is made apparent by Paul, where he says at Eph 2:6: "And he raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus, that in the coming systems of things there might be demonstrated the surpassing riches of his undeserved kindness inhis graciousness toward us in union with Christ Jesus.

"The apostle recognized that both desirable and undesirable things were part of the anointed congregation or kingdom of Christ and both the inferior materials and the precious metals and stones would coexist, until the day of fire would put each one to the test. "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations." Not coincidently, Jesus concluded his illustration of the wheat and the weeds with a similar admonition, saying: "Let him that has ears listen." Mt 11:15

Christ

Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the NT. It denotes that he was anointed to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and king of his people. Isa 9:6

He is Jesus the Christ. Ac 17:3; 18:5; Mt 22:42, the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isa 61:1, and by Da 9:24-26, who styles him "Messiah the Prince." Isa 9:6. The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman " Ge 3:15, "the seed of Abraham" Ge 22:18, the "Prophet like unto Moses" De 18:15, "the priest in the order of Melchizedek" Ps 110:4, "the rod out of the stem of Jesse" Isa 11:1, 10, the "Immanuel," the virgin's son, Isa 7:14, "the branch of Jehovah " Isa 4:2, and "the messenger of the covenant" Mal 3:1

This is he "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." The OT Scriptures are full of prophetic declarations regarding Jehovah sending into the world His Son as a Great deliverer and the work he was to accomplish. The Anointed One, the saviour of men. Now Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Gal´i·lee. So the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed him, and he opened the scroll and found the place where it was written: "Jehovah’s spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor, he sent me forth to preach a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind, to send the crushed ones away with a release, to preach Jehovah’s acceptable year." With that he rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were intently fixed upon him. Then he started to say to them: "Today this scripture that YOU just heard is fulfilled." Lu 4:14-21; Heb 5:4 Isa 11:2-4; 49:6; Joh 5:37; Ac 2:22

To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the saviour sent of God, that he was, in a word, what he claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of which alone mankind can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian. 1 Co 12:3; 1 Jo 5:1

Paul, explained why God gave the nation of Israel the Law, including the Ten Commandments. He said that the Law was a "tutor leading to Christ," but that Christ was the end of the Law. Jesus kept the Law, perfectly. He was the only Jew who did. The new covenant has now replaced the old covenant. The new covenant is between Jehovah and his anointed. Instead of having to obey a Law code written on two tablets of stone, like the Ten Commandments were,the laws of the new covenant are written upon the hearts of those who are in the new covenant.


Messiah

Heb. mashiah, in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the OT, is rendered "Christos." It means anointed. Ex 28:41; 40:15; Nu 3:3, prophets, 1 Ki 19:16, and kings, 1 Sa 9:16; 16:3; 2 Sa 12:7, were anointed with oil. The Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" Ps 45:7, The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the NT, in Joh 1:41 ; 4:25 "Messiah", and in the OT the word Messiah, as the rendering of the Hebrew, occurs only twice Da 9:25, 26; "the anointed one".



The first great promise Ge 3:15 contains in it the essence of all the prophecies recorded in the OT regarding the coming of the Messiah and the faithful work he was to accomplish on earth. The prophecies became more definite and fuller as the ages rolled on; the light shone more and more unto the perfect day. Different periods of prophetic revelation have been pointed out, period of David, of the prophets whose works form apart of the OT. "In him all these ancient prophecies have their fulfilment. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the great deliverer who was to come. Mt 26:54; Mr 9:12; Lu 18:31; 22:37; Joh 5:39; Ac 2; 16:31; 26:22, 23


Christ means "anointed one." The question is: when was Jesus anointed? At his birth? No, he was anointed by God's holy spirit on the occasion of his baptism, when he was 30 years of age. That is when he became the Messiah, or Christ. In fact, Jesus made a public announcement that he had become the Christ. Shortly after his baptism, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah the passage that reads: "Jehovah's spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to declare good news to the poor "


Consider the fact that when Jesus was baptized he was also anointed thus becoming the king designate. Six months after becoming the Messiah Jesus went to Jerusalem and threw the money-changers from his Father’s temple. So, during his three and one half year ministry Jesus was given the kingdom of David. Upon his baptism when the Psalm applied: ‘Ask of me that I may give you kingdoms’. During that 42 month period Jesus ministered to his disciples and prepared them for the hardships ahead. Finally, Jesus subdued his religious enemies and triumphed over the world at his death. Jehovah showed that he had given judgment in favor of Christ by resurrecting him from the dead.


But why did the angel say that the infant was the Christ? Mt 1:20,21 It has to do with the fact that Jehovah calls the things that are not as though they were. That is evident throughout prophecy. The Hebrew prophecies God speaks matter-of-factly about Jesus' death,resurrection and his rulingthe heavenly kingdom long before Christ even came to the earth. Even though Jesus was a free moral agent and could have chosen not to obey God's Will for him, Jehovah expressed his supreme confidence that his purpose would succeed and that his son would never betray him. Isaiah 7:9 bluntly states: "Unless you people have faith, you will in that case not be of long duration."


The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham might come to be by means of Jesus Christ for the nations, that we might receive the promised spirit through our faith in union as One with Father and Son. So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer, our guide to Christ, to [lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith. But now that the faith has come, we are no longer under a the law.


For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union] with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. Ga 3:24-29