The Significance Of Jesus’ Anointing
“The Significance Of Jesus’ Anointing” is a sermon preached from the Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 31 & 32, (Lord’s Day 12), based on John 15:15 by Noah Olguin, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in New Berlin, Wisconsin – a confessional Reformed Baptist church subscribing to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
Introduction
If you have your Heidelberg Catechism with you and would like to turn to Lord’s Day 12. The text I will be reading from is John 15:15:
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
Let us begin with Lord’s Day 12, Questions and Answers 31 and 32.
Lord’s Day 12 Question 31: Why is He Called Christ, that is, Anointed?
Answer:
Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit:
- To be our Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;
- To be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of His body has redeemed us and makes continual intercession with the Father for us;
- To be our Eternal King, who governs us by His Word and Spirit and defends and preserves us in the enjoyment of that salvation He has purchased for us.
Lord’s Day 12 Question 32: Why Are You Called a Christian?
Answer:
Because I am a member of Christ by faith and thus share in His anointing, so that:
- I may confess His name,
- Present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him, and
- Fight against sin and Satan in this life with a free and good conscience and afterward reign with Him eternally over all creatures.
John 15:15
As we read in John 15:15, Jesus calls His followers not servants but friends because He has made known to them everything He has heard from the Father. This passage underscores the intimate relationship believers have with Christ through His work as Prophet, Priest, and King.
Prophets, Priests, and Kings in the Old Testament
Throughout the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings are prominent figures. But have we ever asked ourselves why? Why does the Old Testament feature these roles so heavily?
Adam as the Original Prophet, Priest, and King
When God created Adam, he was meant to embody all three roles:
- Prophet: To speak God’s words after Him.
- Priest: To consecrate all things for God’s glory.
- King: To rule the world as God’s servant.
Had Adam succeeded during his probation, he would have earned eternal life for himself and all his descendants. But Adam failed, introducing sin and separation from God.
The Offices as a Constant Reminder
The offices of prophet, priest, and king in the Old Testament served as constant reminders of humanity’s failure and need for a Redeemer. Every prophet, priest, or king who sinned highlighted the impossibility of achieving God’s standard of holiness through human effort alone. These offices pointed to the need for a perfect Prophet, Priest, and King, whom only God could provide.
Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
When the Redeemer came, He fulfilled all three offices perfectly. This is why the title “Christ” is significant—it means “Anointed One,” referring to the Old Testament practice of anointing prophets, priests, and kings with oil.
Biblical Examples of Anointing
- Priests: Moses anointed Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28).
- Kings: Samuel anointed Saul (1 Samuel 10).
- Prophets: Elijah anointed Elisha (1 Kings 19).
Jesus, however, was anointed not with physical oil but with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling Isaiah 61:1:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”
This anointing fit Jesus for His office, signifying His ordination and equipping by God to accomplish His redemptive work.
The Significance of Christ’s Anointing
1. Anointing Fit Jesus for His Office
The Old Testament anointing with oil symbolized the Spirit’s empowerment for service. Similarly, Jesus’s anointing by the Holy Spirit equipped Him perfectly for His role as Prophet, Priest, and King.
Jesus’s Unique Anointing
Unlike Old Testament figures, whose anointings were imperfect, Jesus received the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). This endowed Him with all gifts necessary to fulfill His divine mission.
2. Empowering Jesus’s Threefold Office
Christ’s anointing empowered Him to:
- Reveal God’s will as Prophet:
Jesus declared the Word of God, bringing light to a world in spiritual darkness (John 8:26). - Reconcile man to God as Priest:
Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and intercedes continually for His people. Unlike Old Testament priests, whose sacrifices were insufficient, Jesus’s sacrifice is eternal and complete. - Rule over an eternal kingdom as King:
Jesus governs His church, protects His people, and ensures their victory over sin, death, and Satan.
Sharing in Christ’s Anointing: Believers as Prophets, Priests, and Kings
Through union with Christ, believers share in His anointing:
- As Prophets: We are called to declare God’s Word and confess His name boldly.
- As Priests: We present ourselves as living sacrifices, offering prayers and thanksgiving to God.
- As Kings: We fight against sin, the world, and the devil, empowered by Christ’s victory.
This participation in Christ’s anointing is a profound blessing, signifying that we are not merely imitators of Christ but active participants in His mission.
Conclusion
What a comfort it is to know that Christ’s anointing ensures our redemption and equips us for service. However, this truth also challenges us not to grow complacent. As those who share in Christ’s anointing, let us:
- Declare His truth as prophets,
- Offer ourselves to Him as priests, and
- Stand firm against sin as kings.
Let us live faithfully, motivated by the knowledge that we are empowered by His Spirit and destined to reign with Him forever.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, We thank You for sending Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Impress these truths upon our hearts, and help us to live as partakers of His anointing. May we boldly confess Your Word, live as sacrifices of thanksgiving, and fight against sin daily. Strengthen us through Your Spirit, and keep us faithful until we reign with Christ in glory forever. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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