As we begin a new church year called “Advent,” I am reminded of the Holy One of God that was sent into this world as the incarnate Christ. He came not as the earthly king and savior that was expected, rather, He came to fulfill all righteousness. The prophet Isaiah speaks hundreds of years before the Christ. Isaiah chapter 61 says, “the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to:
- preach the good news
- bind up the brokenhearted
- proclaim freedom to the captives
- proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
- comfort those who mourn
- bestow on them a crown of beauty . . . the oil of gladness. (61:1-3, paraphrased)
The prophet Isaiah was called to prophesy to Israel and Judah specifically to give comfort to God’s people of their redemption. Isaiah’s call as a prophet was just a few years prior to the Assyrian ravaging of Israel (722 BC). Yet, we see in the previous selection that Israel will be crowned with the oil of gladness rather than ashes.
Just what is the “oil of gladness?” One writer said, “(it) is the symbol of God’s power through the Holy Spirit in the life of His children.” In some translations of the Bible the word “oil” and “ointment” are used interchangeably. Exodus 30:22ff defines the anointing oil – its contents and amounts.
In Psalm 45 of my book, Reflection: Journey through the Psalms,” I comment on the author’s verse two: “describes how God has blessed His Son, i.e. He is blessed forever and been anointed.” Later, Psalm 45:7 says that He has been anointed with the “oil of joy.” This oil of joy was the anointing oil quoted in Exodus as mentioned above. This aromatic oil contained myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, fragrant cane, and the carrier oil – olive oil.
As a pharmacist, I have been trained in various preparations of ointments (oils) and their various uses. Ointments traditionally are thick, buttery, or tallow-like consistency. There are multiple synonyms for ointment such as: unguent, balm, and salve. Modern ointment bases vary from water soluble bases, oils, paraffins and of course, wool fat (lanolin). Uses of ointments date back centuries and continue today. They can be very effective for burns, cuts, itching, pain, and various skin problems. The New Testament reminds us that the Good Samaritan had compassion on a traveler who fell in harm’s way. This Samaritan tended to his needs with healing oil and wine.
Anointing is not only physical but spiritual. Our LORD was anointed by the Holy Spirit following His baptism by the prophet John the Baptist. The gospel writers tell us that following his baptism, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22ff) Just as priests and kings were anointed, so our LORD was anointed as the Christ who came to redeem His people. The gospel writer Mark tells of Jesus’ anointing by a woman in the home of Simon the Leper. She used very expensive perfume called Nard (see description below).
We too are anointed with the Holy Spirit in our baptism. The Spirit of God descends on us in our sin-filled state, making us blameless before God’s throne as we have been born again in faith. This spiritual anointing is spectacular, considering our baptism is with common elements of water and the Word.
As we celebrate our LORD’s first coming and look forward to His second coming, we too can be filled with the oil of gladness and joy as called heirs of the Anointed One.
May the peace of Christ dwell in you richly.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
NOTE: *Spikenard: a/k/a nard. Is a classic, amber-colored essential oil (volatile oil) obtained from a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family native in the Himalayas (Nepal), China and India. It has been used for centuries as a perfume but also used in medicine and in religious ceremonies. Pliny the Elder has been regarded as a chief authority on nard. In his Nat. Hist. xii.26,27, xiii,2, he speaks of its great value (approximately 300 denarii per pound of the ointment). Because of its cost, it was often adulterated which affected the color (known for its lightness, red color, and its sweet smell). The word “spike” refers to the purple flowers that spike from each of its four stamens. Sources: Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament; Wikipedia
*Excerpt from “From Nard to Nothing, Saturday’s Notes Publishing, G. H. Roesener, March 2021
