Sermon on Lord’s Day 12⤒🔗

Q. Why is He called Christ, that is, Anointed?
A. Because He has been ordained by God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Spirit,[1] to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,[2] who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;[3] our only High Priest,[4] who by the one sacrifice of His body has redeemed us,[5] and who continually intercedes for us before the Father;[6] and our eternal King,[7] who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.[8]
[1] Ps. 45:7 (Heb. 1:9); Is. 61:1 (Luke 4:18; Luke 3:21, 22. [2] Deut. 18:15 (Acts 3:22). [3] John 1:18; 15:15. [4] Ps. 110:4 (Heb. 7:17). [5] Heb. 9:12; 10:11-14. [6] Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; I John 2:1. [7] Zach. 9:9 (Matt. 21:5); Luke 1:33. [8] Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:28; Rev. 12:10, 11.

Q. Why are you called a Christian?
A. Because I am a member of Christ by faith[1] and thus share in His anointing,[2] so that I may as prophet confess His Name,[3] as priest present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him,[4] and as king fight with a free and good conscience against sin and the devil in this life,[5] and hereafter reign with Him eternally over all creatures.[6]
[1] I Cor. 12:12-27. [2] Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:17); I John 2:27. [3] Matt. 10:32; Rom 10:9, 10; Heb. 13:15. [4] Rom. 12:1; I Pet. 2:5, 9. [5] Gal. 5:16, 17; Eph. 6:11; I Tim. 1:18, 19. [6] Matt. 25:34; II Tim. 2:12.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:62-67, Luke 3:21,22

Singing: (Psalms and Hymns are from the "Book of Praise" Anglo Genevan Psalter)
Psalm 132:5,10
Hymn 22
Psalm 2:1,4
Psalm 20:3,4
Psalm 92:4,5

Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ!

In the streets of Nazareth many years ago a little boy answered to the name ‘Jesus’. Nobody took offense at that name, even though in the Hebrew language that name meant ‘savior’; in fact, there were more boys with that same name (cf Acts 13:6).

But once this Jesus accepted for Himself the title ‘Christ’, people were greatly offended. Matthew records the Jews’ response to Jesus’ admission that He was ‘Christ’. It was, they said, sufficient reason to crucify Him (cf Mt 26:63ff). The term offended them!

Why? What was offensive about the use of the term?

We need to know, brothers and sisters, that the word ‘Christ’ is not a name, but a title. Take the phrase ‘Prince Charles’. The word ‘Charles’ is obviously a name, and it’s quite a common one too. But the term ‘Prince’ is not a name; it’s rather a title, and it describes the task, the position, the office this particular Charles has.

So it is too with Christ Jesus. ‘Jesus’ is the name; ‘Christ’ is the title describing His task, His position, His office. It’s that title, and the task, the position caught in the title, that offended the Jews.

Why? We know what a prince is, and what’s expected of a prince. But what is a Christ? As it is, the word ‘Christ’ is not English, but Greek; it’s the Greek word for the English term ‘anointed’. (The Hebrew equivalent is Messiah.) To say, then, that Jesus is ‘the Christ’ is to say that Jesus is ‘the Anointed One’. That Jesus accepted that title, that task for Himself –Anointed One- that upset the Jews so terribly! Why? Should we be upset with this title also? Or might there be gospel here?

Yes, beloved, there is much gospel here. The title ‘Christ’ spells out that Jesus of Nazareth received His office from God, indeed, carried out His task with God’s approval.

I summarize the sermon with this theme:

Jesus’ anointing spelled out that he fulfilled his office with heaven’s approval

1. The background to Jesus’ anointing in the Old Testament,
2. The fruit of Jesus’ anointing while on earth,
3. The consequence of Jesus’ anointing today.

The background of Jesus’ anointing←⤒🔗

Anointing was a relatively common practice amongst the people of Israel. Anointing was used for purposes of purification, hygiene and beautification, as well as for treatment of wounds and curing of diseases.

There was, however, also an anointing different from the mundane anointing that people did to themselves or each other. I refer here to the passage we read from Ex 30. The Lord gave Moses a particular recipe ("500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon, 250 shekels of sweet-smelling cane", etc – vss 23f), and from that recipe Moses was to make "a holy anointing oil." With that special oil Moses was to anoint the tabernacle, the ark, and numerous other furniture of the tabernacle. Moses was also to "anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests" (vs 30). Notice the further instruction of vs 32: this oil "shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it…." Point: this oil "is holy." Whoever plays around with this oil shall be cut off from his people, excommunicated.

What was the purpose of this "holy anointing oil"? This: through this oil God Himself designated a particular person to a specific task. More, through this oil God equipped the designated person to the task to which God assigned him. The oil, we need to know, represented the Holy Spirit. When God, then, had someone anointed with this holy oil, God indicated that the Holy Spirit would strengthen this person for his task.

Throughout the Old Testament we read of various people who were anointed. I read in 1 Samuel 10 these words: "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on [Saul’s] head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?’" (vss 1ff). Notice: through the anointing the Lord Himself designated Saul to the office of commander, of king, over His people. Again, in 1 Sam 16:13 I read: "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." It is important to notice here what the effect of the anointing was on David: straightaway the Holy Spirit came upon him. For the oil represents the Holy Spirit!

These two men were anointed to the office of king in Israel. We also read of persons being ordained to the office of priest. I think of Aaron, in Lev 8:30: "Then Moses took some of the anointing oil …, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him; and he consecrated Aaron, his garments, his sons, and the garments of his sons with him." And to the office of prophet: God gave to Elijah this command: "Elisha the son of Shaphat … you shall anoint as prophet in your place."

But nowhere do we read of anyone being anointed to the position of baker or sandal maker! Why, congregation, might that be? Why only to the offices of prophet or priest or king? The reason is this: the quality of sandal made by a sandal maker did not depend on whether the sandal maker was a believer or not. That’s to say: you as a buyer did not need assurance from God that the work of this sandal maker was guided by God’s Holy Spirit. But exactly on that point Israel did need assurance from God about the work of Aaron the priest. The tabernacle had just been built, and was now to come into operation. Fundamental to the message and purpose of the tabernacle was the sacrifices made on the altar of burnt offering. But what guarantee was there that God would accept those sacrifices? More, what guarantee was there that the man who explained the significance of these sacrifices actually spoke words of truth? And when this man afterwards stretched out his hands to bless the people, what assurance did the people have that this blessing actually came from God? In that context Aaron’s anointing receives meaning. God Himself, before the eyes of all the people, designated Aaron to the office of priest – and that’s to say that the Lord would respect His work, would equip him to be the high priest Israel needed. The anointing, then, provided great encouragement and comfort to the people!

The same is true when the people wanted a king. Their motives for wanting a king were wrong, but the Lord was not about to reject His people on account of their sin. So God Himself gave them a king, God Himself designated Saul to that high office, and God Himself equipped him with His Spirit to carry out that office. Here was assurance for the people: our God has given us this king, our God is ruling over us through this man. And exactly because God was behind Saul-the-king, David refused years later to kill Saul – even though Saul was carrying out His God-given office so very wrongly (1 Sam 24:6; cf 1 Sam 26:16). David knew: since God had anointed Saul, David had to respect King Saul – difficult though it was.

It’s exactly because of Saul’s wickedness that there’s such gospel in the fact that God anointed David. In David’s anointing, God assured the people that He was providing a better man; He had not given up on His own.

The same message comes through in relation to Elisha the prophet. Godlessness dominated the people of Israel, and that made the task of being a prophet so terribly, terribly difficult; recall how despondent Elijah became…. How shall he ever obtain a successor, a man to carry on with the work after him? And why should the people pay any attention to Elisha? God tells Elijah to anoint a successor – and so Elisha is assured that God Himself has called him to this work of prophet and therefore will equip. Equally, the people of Israel were assured that Elisha did not speak on his own authority, but spoke with God’s approval – and therefore the people had better listen!

Why, then, was no sandal maker anointed? That’s because the sandal maker did not have a specific function in the relation between God and His people. But the priest did, and so did the king and so did the prophet. As evidence that these persons labored with heaven’s approval, certain persons were anointed in the Old Testament, were made ‘christs’, anointed ones, messiahs.

But: none of the anointed ones of the Old Testament, none of these christs, carried out their office with any measure of perfection. So there was need for the better Christ, the real Christ. That brings us to our second point:

The significance of Jesus’ anointing←⤒🔗

Was Jesus in fact anointed? We nowhere read that the oil of Ex 30 was poured on Jesus’ head. But remember: the oil of Ex 30 symbolized, we said earlier, the Holy Spirit. And we read from Luke 3 that Yes, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus – at His baptism. That is to say: directly after His baptism the Lord God publicly designated Jesus to a particular office in Israel, and with the designation equipped Him to carry out that office. Now He became the Christ, the anointed One. It is because He was now Christ, designated by God to a specific task in Israel in the relation between God and His people – it is because He was now Christ that the Holy Spirit immediately led Jesus in the wilderness to be tempted 40 days by the devil (Luke 4:1ff). And see: He could withstand Satan’s strongest attacks! He labored with heaven’s approval, labored with heaven’s power, and so could triumph! And equally: directly after the temptation by the devil, the Spirit who anointed Jesus drove Him into Galilee to begin His public ministry. According to Luke, Jesus straightaway opened the Scriptures to Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor…," and Jesus declared that this Scripture was fulfilled in Him. He was the Lord’s anointed, and so worked with heaven’s approval; His preaching and His teaching, His miracles and signs were done because God was at work in Him. Precisely for that reason the people had to receive Him, accept Him, listen to Him.

I must draw that out further. Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by the Spirit of God to preach. So Jesus spoke words from God. That is: He explained to the people of Israel what their God-by-covenant was like (cf John 1:18). It’s a message repeated over and over again in the gospel of John: "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me" (7:16); "I speak what I have seen from My Father" (8:37), "all the things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (15:15). He spoke words from God, and therein was Israel’s "chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to [them] the secret counsel and will of God concerning [their] redemption." Exactly because He spoke words from God –He was anointed, He was the Christ!- was it incumbent upon the people to listen, to accept His words. His identity as Christ demanded it. But exactly that is what the Jews refused to do! So when Jesus said He was the Christ, said He was anointed, they were greatly offended, and demanded His death….

By the same token, Jesus’ anointing by God the Father, Jesus being Christ, meant that He was designated by God in heaven to be the only High Priest. That’s to say: He had to make sacrifices on behalf of the people in order to reconcile sinners to God. As John the Baptist put it: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). "Lamb of God": God Himself had designated Him to be the Lamb. But if God has designated and equipped Him to be the Lamb who takes away the world’s sin, again, all must accept Him, must accept that He is the only sacrifice that can save us; His identity as Christ demands it. But exactly that is what the Jews refused to do!

Again, Jesus’ anointing by God the Father meant that God had appointed Him to the office and task of King. In the course of His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly demonstrated His kingship. The theme of His preaching was this: "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 5:17). Specifically, He was the King heaven had designated, and so all were to listen to Him, submit to Him. He demonstrated His kingship by telling the winds and waves to be still (Mk 4:35ff), instructing the demons to leave the demonic and enter the pigs (Mk 5:1ff), healing the hemorrhaging woman (Mk 5:25ff) and raising the dead girl (Mk 5:40ff). But the Jews were offended. By whose authority, they challenged, do you do these things? (Mt 21:23). You see: accepting that Jesus acted from heaven hinged on whether the Jews would accept that Jesus was anointed! If He were anointed, He would be acting with God’s approval, and that had implications for men! That’s what they rejected, and so demanded His death.

Do you see, beloved, how central Jesus’ anointing is to His work? Either Jesus did His work with God’s approval, or He did not. If He did, He must be accepted, believed, embraced. If He did not, He must be rejected, condemned. The Jews rejected the fact of His anointing, rejected that He was the Christ, condemned Him.

And we? Sunday by Sunday we confess that we believe in Jesus Christ. That is: Sunday by Sunday we confess that God the Father designated Jesus of Nazareth to be Christ, and so the Holy Spirit came upon this Jesus of Nazareth powerfully and equipped Him to carry out His God-given office of prophet, priest and king. And it is exactly because we confess that He was anointed, congregation, that we receive His words as God’s words, that we accept His sacrifice on the cross as sufficient to reconcile us to God, and that we embrace His authority over our lives still. His identity as Christ demands it!

So we come to our last point:

The consequence of Jesus’ anointing today←⤒🔗

Much has happened since Jesus was anointed 2000 years ago. Is He still anointed today? Yes, beloved, He is. Never has the Lord God relieved Him of His office of prophet or priest or king.

In what way, then, is He prophet today? He sits in heaven, at God’s right hand; how does He speak the words of God on earth today? In this way: through His Spirit He has caused the Word of God to be put to writing – and so we have the Bible. Further, the anointed Savior causes God’s word of salvation to be heard all over this world through the preaching. It is He –anointed to be prophet- who takes particular men and directs them to preach the Word – ministers, missionaries. Preachers do not preach on their own authority; preachers preach because the ascended Christ compels them. That is why congregations must submit to the preaching – not because the preacher happens to be persuasive or likeable, but because behind the preacher is our Chief Prophet and Teacher. Christ causes His word to be opened, and therefore people are obliged to receive the preaching.

Equally, the ascended Jesus is Priest today still. No, He does not today sacrifice Himself anymore; He completed that work on Calvary. Today He intercedes on our behalf before the Father, reminds the Father time and again of the work He accomplished on the cross for our benefit. And we on earth may be assured that Yes, the Father hears the intercession of the Son on the grounds that God the Father has Himself designated Him to the task of Priest. How very comforting for us; here’s catalyst to pray!

Once more: the ascended Jesus is King today also. God the Father has not withdrawn His anointing, and so Jesus in heaven continues to exercise His kingly dominion over the world. He governs with God’s approval. We realize: there’s so very much comfort for us in that reality! Jesus does not rule at cross-purposes with the Father; no, He carries out precisely what God wants – for He’s equipped through God’s Spirit to carry out the will of God. So the way history unfolds today –on the international stage as well as in our personal lives- is as God wants it.

Do you see, beloved, how relevant and close to home the matter of Jesus’ anointing is? Jesus was anointed long ago, and therefore equipped to tell us about God and reconcile us to Him – how fundamentally important to our salvation His anointing was! But equally today: Jesus is anointed still, is still the Christ, and therefore labors still with heaven’s approval for our benefit. It’s because He is anointed still that we have God’s Word, and can be sure that the word we have and hear is God’s word. It’s because He is anointed still that our prayers come into heaven, and we can be assured that God actually hears us and accepts us. It is because He is anointed still that world history goes as it goes, more, that we can be at peace with the developments around us – Christ governs and directs all according to heaven’s plans. How comforting, how comforting the reality of Jesus’ anointing!!

And we? We belong to this Jesus! As He was anointed, so we are anointed! So: as He was designated to be prophet, priest and king, so we are designated to be prophet, priest and king. More, as He was equipped to be prophet, priest and king, so we are equipped to speak of God on this earth, to empty ourselves for God’s glory, and to fight against sin within and around us. To be sure, when we hear of the need to be prophet, priest and king, we cringe a bit under the weight of the mandate; few of us really feel adequate to the task of being prophet or priest or king as described in our Lord’s Day. For that reason I want to stress: anointing involves not just a task, a designation; anointing involves being equipped to carry out the task! That’s the assurance of the Scriptures: ask and it will be given to you. Ask for strength to be the prophet, priest and king God anointed you to be, and you shall receive. What is the guarantee that you shall receive? This: the Chief Prophet and Teacher said so – and He spoke with God’s approval! More: the only High Priest continues to intercede for us before the Father – a task He carries out with God’s approval and therefore is effective. So: ask boldly for strength to fulfill your God-given office! More still: our eternal King governs the events of our lives, puts us in situations where we can confess God’s Name, where we can present ourselves a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him, and where we can fight against sin and the devil – and He puts us in those situations with God’s approval. Can it ever then be too much for us?

You see: our office as Christians – prophets, priests and kings- is rooted in Christ’s continuing office as Prophet, Priest and King. Since He continues to carry it our faithfully, with the approval of God Most High, we can be greatly encouraged in our offices. It’s not for us to stare at our weaknesses; it’s for us to focus on Jesus’ identity as the Christ! Then we’re strengthened, greatly strengthened.

The Jews were greatly offended with Jesus’ statement that He was the Christ, anointed. They could not stomach the thought that Jesus labored with heaven’s approval. And we? We’re either offended by this gospel or greatly encouraged. Amen.