The Anointed One: What is the Anointing and Who is the Anointed One?

At churches and Christian gatherings, a common phrase is, “I feel the anointing here.” But can we truly feel the anointing? Are the cool breeze and goosebumps a result of the anointing? What is the anointing, and who is the Anointed One? These are questions that are on the minds of so many individuals today.

To be anointed means to be empowered, protected, or set apart. Now and then, we attend anointing services where church leaders anoint members with oil. Is this valid? Join us to explore the concept of the anointing and the Anointed One.

What is the Anointing?

According to Jewish tradition, “anointing” is an act that refers to rubbing or smearing oil to make a person or thing sacred. The Greek word for “anoint” marries two words, “chrio” and “aleipho.” While the former means “to rub or smear oil,” the latter refers to the process “to anoint.” 

When one considers different schools of thought, it becomes clear that the anointing sets a person or thing apart for diving use. For humans, the anoint supplies power to carry out God’s work. It also signifies deliverance and protection. 

The best place to find out what the anointing means is the Bible. Below are some parts of scripture that explain some functions of the anointing.

To consecrate or set apart

Genesis 28:18 – “So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.”

2 Kings 9:6 – “So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel.’”

Protection

James 5:14 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

1 Chronicles 16:21-22 – “He allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, ‘Touch not my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!’”

Empowerment

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Who is the Anointed One?

Jesus Christ went into the temple and picked up the scroll to read. The scripture He read from was a prophecy written by Isaiah saying,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:17-19

Acts 10:38 further buttresses this point by explaining that Jesus Christ was anointed with the “Holy Ghost and power.” Christ means “The Anointed One.” 

All these parts of scripture go a long way to tell us who the “Anointed One” is. This is not to say that the prophets and leaders in the Bible and modern times aren’t anointed. However, there is only one ultimate Anointed One, and His name is Jesus Christ.

It is through Him that we have access to the anointing. His sacrifice tore the curtains that separated the temple from the Holies of Holies to give us equal access to God’s presence. The only way we have the Holy Spirit who anoints us today is through the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross. Without Him, God couldn’t have released the Holy Spirit by whom we have received the anointing. Of course, without the anointing, we would have faced numerous limitations in carrying out God’s mandate on earth.

Can Anyone be Anointed?

This question is another one relating to the anointing that comes up rather frequently. In the Old Testament, we had particular individuals that God anointed. Some include Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Samson, Saul, David, Samuel, etc. These individuals had specific encounters with God that released them into different realms of anointing backed up by all kinds of manifestations.

When Jesus Christ came, His ministry demystified the anointing. The aim was to lead every one of us into God’s presence so that we could all become anointed like Him. He promised to leave us the Comforter and Spirit of Truth to empower us once we received Him.

As such, every believer can receive the anointing. The anointing comes by receiving the Holy Spirit, and it isn’t just for the prominent roles in the Kingdom. It helps us become like Christ and achieve far more excellent results than Him as He promised. 

Conclusion

The Anointed One has given us equal access to the anointing that equips us for life and ministry. With the anointing, we can boldly say we have no limitations. If you have ever suffered restrictions, it is because you haven’t fully grasped or exploited the benefits of the anointing. Take time to study your identity in Christ, and you will understand your true heritage and how you can harness the anointing.

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