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; 1 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 9:25; 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 10:38).
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 6:3-4). 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 1:31-34).
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 3:15).
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 53:8-10; Lamentations 1:12; 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.