In Old Testament times, when God chose a person to serve in a very prominent role such as a prophet, priest or king, he would be exposed to a special act of anointing with oil, during the inaugural ceremony.  Usually, God would commission a prophet as the designated official to carry out this most noble act.  The prophet would pour the anointing oil upon the head of the chosen person.

In the Old Testament Scripture, the Hebrew word “mashiah”, is translated “Messiah” and has the connotation of the “anointed one”.  Throughout the Old Testament Scripture, this was a very significant concept.  The “anointed one”, whether a prophet, priest or king, was considered specifically chosen by God for a divine purpose.  The equivalent word for “anoint” in the New Testament Scripture is “chrio” (Greek).  Its principal meaning is to “commission or consecrate”.  The Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary defines the word anoint as, “to apply oil or ointment to, especially as a religious ceremony, example, the consecration of a priest or king, or in ministering to the sick.”

In Scripture, one of the most remarkable examples of an anointing ceremony can be found in I Samuel 16:12-13.  The Scripture gives the account of a teenager being chosen by God to become the next king of Israel.  The teenager was David.  The Scripture states:  “…and the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” (I Samuel 16:12b-13a, NKJV).  It should be noted that after the act of anointing with oil, the Scripture specifically indicate that the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.  In Scripture, the term “Spirit of the LORD” is one of the synonyms for the Holy Spirit.  Symbolically, the oil of anointing is a representation of the Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing which the anointed person would need to execute their duties in the role for which they were chosen.

In Scripture, the most notable anointed King is Jesus Christ.  Indeed Jesus is the “Messiah” or “the Christos”, which means the “anointed one”.  During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Holy Spirit played a critical role (Acts 10:38).  Further, in Luke 4:18, Jesus Christ emphasized the fact that the Holy Spirit had anointed Him as an obligatory requirement for His ministry.  

In order to understand the selected Scripture passage in John 2:20-27, it is essential that I give a quick review of its background for the proper context.  The Christian believers had experienced conflict within their community. Some of the believers had left the community and were referred to as the “antichrists”.  The dispute had its foundation in how the community had understood Jesus Christ.  The writer believed that the presence of the “antichrists” was evidence that the “last hour” had appeared and the coming of the “Antichrist” was imminent (vs. 18).  Although those remaining within in the community were well aware of the heresy, some had considered joining the other splinter group.  Therefore, John reassured those within the community of believers about the Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing.  John the Gospel writer, one of Jesus’ disciples who had witnessed the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry, gives us three key principles from the selected passage:

1.    We have an anointing from the Holy Spirit (vs. 20)
The Greek word “chrisma”, which is found only here in I John 2:20, 27, best translates to the English word “anointing”.  This specific reference points to the “anointing” as the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit’s anointing is given to us for the sole purpose of effective ministry.  In essence the Holy Spirit equips us for the work of the ministry.  It was the anointing of the Holy Spirit which propelled the early church to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of severe oppositions and adversity.  The early church grew exponentially because of the Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing.  In our daily pursuits of being a witness of Jesus Christ, there are several challenges that we may face.  Regardless of these challenges the anointing of the Holy Spirit provides the basis for our persistence in the ministry. 

2.    The Holy Spirit’s anointing abides within us (vs. 27)
The anointing which we have received from the Holy Spirit abides in us.  The Scripture states:  “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…” (vs. 27a)  It is imperative that we establish and maintain a strong relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The anointing empowers us to accomplish God’s divine will for our lives.  God’s desire is for us to serve Him and to advance His Kingdom on earth.  The Holy Spirit is the agent by whom God communicates His power and authority for service in His kingdom. 

3.    The Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing teaches us all things (vs. 20, 27)
John had warned the community of believers in verse 15.  He had instructed them not to love the world or the things in the world.  John cautioned them that if anyone loved the world, the love of the Father was not in him.  The Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing teaches us all things.  We have been taught the truth that “…all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” (vs. 16a)  Furthermore, the Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing relegates us to the position of standing on God’s Word as the ultimate standard of truth.  The Scripture states: “…but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (vs. 27b)  We all know the truth.

Finally, God is still calling, equipping and releasing men and women to reap the harvest of lost souls.  The clarion call is not for pastors and evangelists only.  God intends that all of us ought to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, in a depraved world.  We have a mission to accomplish.  This mission can be strategically accomplished if we rely on the Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing. The Holy Spirit’s ministry of anointing will never lose its effectiveness.