The Anointed One: Luke 3:21-22

From: The Perfect Man: Bible Talks On Luke By:

Luke 3:21‑22 • 3 min. read • grade level: 8

It is told in the Old Testament that when God chose a man to do great work for Israel, a prophet anointed his head with a special oil, in the presence of others. This was a sign to the people that the man was chosen by God, and had authority from Him for His work, as Aaron for high priest, and David for king (Leviticus 8:12; 1¹²And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Leviticus 8:12) Samuel 16:13).

It was also written that the Holy Person to come to earth to fulfil all God’s work, would be an anointed One, called “The Messiah,” a Hebrew word meaning, “The Anointed” (Daniel 9:25²⁵Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25); Psalm 2:2²The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, (Psalm 2:2)).

Jesus Is Anointed

Before Jesus began His work, greater than that of all others, this is what we read: “Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost [Spirit] descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, ‘Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased.’” Later we read: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power” (Acts 10:38³⁸How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)).

So we learn that Jesus was anointed for His wonderful works on earth, not by a prophet, but by God the Father, and not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit. By that, God gave authority and power, and His Voice declared Jesus to be His Son, with approval, as God could give no other. It is said that the words given in our language. “In Thee I am well pleased,” really meant, “all delight”: in Jesus only, God found delight. Other men chosen had not always done God’s work; they all sinned, but He could delight in Jesus.

By going into the water in baptism, Jesus had shown His willingness to do His greatest work—to bear God’s judgment against sins by His own death—and shown his trust that God would raise Him from death; baptism being a symbol to teach of death (Romans 6:3-4³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3‑4)). The trust and dependence of Jesus were also shown in that He was praying.

It is not told if others besides the prophet John saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus, but John told the people, and God wanted them to believe His prophet who spoke to them for Him (John 1:31-34³¹And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. ³²And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³³And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ³⁴And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:31‑34)).

An Important Event

So the baptism and anointing of Jesus was a very important event of His life on earth, and written about in Matthew 3 and Mark 1 as well. It was then near the year written for the Messiah by Daniel, and the people were in “expectation” of His coming and thought the prophet John might be He (Luke 3:15¹⁵And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; (Luke 3:15)).

All should have believed John that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the Son of God. His holy ways and wondrous miracles later fully proved Him to many, but few understood that the Messiah must die, although that was shown in the Psalms (Psalm 22 and Psalm 69; Isaiah 53:8-10⁸He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. ⁹And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. ¹⁰Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:8‑10); Lamentations 1:12¹²Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. (Lamentations 1:12); Daniel 9:25²⁵Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25)).

Further Meditation

1. Why might the people have been expecting the coming of the Messiah?

2. We often miss seeing what is “right under our nose.” One reason might be that we are looking for a big blue book when the one we want is really a little blue book. We may have most of the description right and miss an important detail that keeps us from our goal. How did the Jewish people miss the fact that the Lord Jesus was the true Messiah?

3. You can find some wonderful words for your heart on the gospel of Luke in The Evangelists by J. G. Bellett.

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