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THE ANOINTING
The olive tree is the tree of anointing. Those who are grafted into the olive tree by faith in Jesus (Yeshua), according to
Romans 11:17-21, might properly be called “anointed ones.” The New Testament pictures this truth in several places, such as 2
Corinthians 1:21, where it is said: “...He anointed us....” It is also pictured in 1 John 2:20, where we read, “But you have an
anointing from the Holy One....” In the Bible, the kings of Israel were anointed, as were priests and even prophets that they might
serve the living God.
In Hebrew, the word for Messiah is “anointed one,” or one who is “smeared” with oil. We must say this reverently but the
Messi-anic Kingdom is thus a rather “messy” affair. It is messy with the anointing. We see this so vividly illustrated in Psalm 133:2.
We simply must get the full impact of this picture. Aaron, the first High Priest, was clothed in some of the most magnificent
garments ever made. They were designed by God himself. Yet, after Aaron donned these beautiful garments, he was immediately
anointed with olive oil (Lev. 8:1-13). The scripture says in Psalm 133:1-2, it literally ran from his head “...down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.” What a holy mess!
In Christianity we like to keep things staid and proper. In this sense, we like to keep the beautiful garments of salvation all
pressed and properly displayed.
I remember in a meeting some years ago that a lady came forward for prayer. She may have been expecting some sort of
“proper” prayer. Yet, the minister had been talking about this very subject of anointing. In response to her request, the brother took
a bottle of anointing oil (Jas. 5:14-15) and impulsively poured it out over her hairdo. The lady was in absolute shock. There was an
embarrassed silence. After a few moments she chuckled at the absurdity of it all, and then she broke into holy laughter, and into
victory. She got her request from the Lord.
There are several things we can say about the anointing and about the olive tree, but the mysteries of this subject are great.
Let us probe a little.
THE ANOINTING TEACHES US
John says: “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as
his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him”
(1 Jn. 2:27).
Thus we believers have an anointing that teaches and instructs us. That anointing is the Holy Spirit living and working within
our lives. He literally teaches us and guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Now, there is one thing this verse does not mean. It does
not mean that we should refuse to submit ourselves to other teachers. In fact, if we feel like we know everything and have no need
to be taught by others, we have an un-teachable spirit and have missed the message of the Bible. God has placed teachers in the
Body of Christ to teach and perfect us all (Eph. 4:11-13). We had better listen to them.
Yet, the anointing of God will teach us daily if we allow it. It is much like having a private tutor. He will lead us into wisdom,
but not the wisdom of this world. Paul expresses it in this wise: “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is
from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom
but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned” (1 Cor. 2:12-14).
THE ANOINTING ENABLES US TO DO THE LORD’S WORK
Yeshua taught his disciples carefully for some three years. They witnessed his miracles, his atoning death, his resurrection and
his glorious ascension. They were surely prepared to do his work. Not so! After the resurrection, and shortly before his ascension,
he gave this instruction to the disciples: “...Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard
me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). The
disciples needed the anointing to do God’s work. They had to wait until that
anointing came.
There is a beautiful picture of this in the Tanakh (Old Testament). When God’s people returned from Babylon and sought to
rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem there was much discouragement. The work went slowly and then finally ceased altogether. They
were in a similar situation as many churches are in today. At this bleak hour, two anointed ones stepped forward, inspired by God’s
prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. It is likely that these anointed ones were none other than Joshua son of Jehozadak the priest and
Zerubabbel the governor. Zechariah speaks of them as the “...the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth”
(Zech. 4:14).
These men arose and built the Temple of God, even in the most adverse circumstances. However, they did not build by
natural strength. This was the instruction of the Lord to Zerubabel in Zechariah 4:6: “...Not by might nor by power, but by my
Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
Zechariah pictures these two leaders as two olive trees standing beside the golden lampstand (Menorah). He sees them as
pouring golden oil into the menorah (4:12). What a picture! God’s anointed people will pour precious Holy Spirit oil into his church
and into Israel. That oil will light the world and help bring about the completion of God’s true Temple.
THE ANOINTING BRINGS HEALING
Yeshua is known as the one anointed of God. As God’s anointed he went about healing the sick and breaking bondages of all
types. In Acts 10:38, Peter tells “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around
doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Those oppressed by the devil were
freed as the scripture says, “...And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil” (Isa. 10:27 NKJV).
It is interesting that the scripture connects olive oil with healing of all types. Of course, olive oil was used on a daily basis in
biblical times for medicinal purposes. In addition, it represents something in the spiritual realm of healing. Here is the simple
instruction of James 5:14-15: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with
oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has
sinned, he will be forgiven.” God has given his people the right and authority to heal the sick through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
For those grafted into the olive tree through Jesus, healing is a part of their heritage. As the scripture says in another place,
healing, even healing of a complicated spiritual nature, is the “children’s bread” (Matt. 15:26). It comes with the anointing, along
with revelation, spiritual power and the other things we have mentioned. It is just another of the many bonuses and side benefits of
being grafted into the olive tree.
- Jim Gerrish
This updated article is presented courtesy of Bridges For Peace, Jerusalem (orig. pub. date - 1997).