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Mark – Jesus’s 3 Anointings
Jesus is the anointed one, or as usually translated, the “Christ” or “Messiah”. Anointing is the act of pouring “something” onto another, and in the OT was for a divinely given appointment. Mark likes to group events by three’s. Jesus’s anointing is no different. Twice Jesus is successfully anointed; but the third time is a failure. None the less, it is part of Mark’s grouping of Jesus’s anointing into three.
FIRST ANOINTING: Beginning of Mission
Jesus’s first anointing doesn’t use that word, but the signs are there. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’s anointing.
“As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.”” (CSB’17 Mark 1:10-11)
When Jesus is baptized in water, he is anointed by His Father with the Holy Spirit. Like priests, prophets, and kings are anointed at the beginning of their mission, so is Jesus.
SECOND ANOINTING: Before Burial
Does this woman know what she is doing? Jesus does, and calls it an anointing.
“While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.” (CSB’17 Mark 14:3)
“She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial.” (CSB’17 Mark 14:8)
Jesus said wherever the gospel is preached, this woman’s deed will be remembered. That is because Jesus’s death is a necessary fact of the good news. Ironically, as important as this anointing is, the name of the woman remains unspoken. Our acts of honoring Jesus are more important than our names.
THIRD ANOINTING: After Burial and Ending of Mission
Despite Jesus already being anointed for his burial, the formal burial anointing doesn’t take place before his body is sealed in the tomb. The Sabbath is being respected not knowing Jesus is the true Sabbath.
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him.” (CSB’17 Mark 16:1)
As concerning this third anointing, two realities make their task impossible:
1. Jesus’s resurrection enlivened His body. The tomb was empty.
2. They didn’t have anyone to move the stone. One reason might be the men were in hiding!
One known fact and one unknown fact lead to this third anointing being a failure.
Christians today are also anointed.
“I have written these things to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (CSB’17 1 John 2:26-27)
Our anointing can be successful or we can cause it to be a failure. It comes at the beginning of our mission when we are baptized and is also part of the gospel story still being told.
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