"(18) The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Luke 4 18-19. NKJV
Using the words from Isaiah 61, Jesus having entered the synagogue, spoke to the people. When He had finished quoting our text above, He closed the book and said, 'Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.' (v21). This caused mayhem as you can well imagine. He was declaring that He was the Anointed One - the Messiah, sent by the God the Father.
What does 'anointed', actually mean in this context? Well literally it is, to rub with oil, especially in order to consecrate someone or something. The Hebrew word for anointed is, mashach and refers to the rubbing or smearing of sacred oil. The most important derivative of mashach is mashiyach which means Messiah - Anointed One. Jesus is the promised Anointed One; His title was Jesus the Messiah, but was translated into Greek, meaning Christos - hence the designated Jesus Christ.
It is important to realise, that as His children, we too are anointed. In a way, the Holy Spirit has rubbed anointing oil on each one of us so that, we can flow in what He has called us to do. Psalm 92:10 is a good example, 'But my horn, You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil'. The horn is a symbol of strength and gives us prominence and security. It offers us social standing, stately grace and favour. Each day, we would be wise to ask for a fresh anointing - to renew the anointing for all that we have to do through the day.
You may not feel anointed but you are because Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Anointed One has declared it. 'His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness' Lamentations 3:23-24.
He has given you strength by exalting you like a wild ox. Picture that for a moment. You have amazing strength, but only in Him. Without Him you are nothing. (John 15:5).
Jesus made a declaration that day in the synagogue; He made a stand. In a paraphrase, He said something like, 'Well, this is how it is boys, I am the Messiah, the Anointed One. You didn't recognise Me and still don't. But I am here now and I am going to fulfil My Father's work.
Can you stand and say that? Can you join with Jesus - the Anointed One, and fulfil the work for the Father?
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
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