Gospels Part 044
In the last two lessons we covered that “Christ” means anointed, the same as the Hebrew word Messiah. We discussed that one purpose for anointing was to dedicate something or someone to God, and Jesus’ entire life was an example of complete and total dedication to God’s will. We also covered that priests were anointed, and Jesus is our High Priest. Today we’ll look at another use of anointing and how it applies to Jesus Christ.
Set Apart as Prophet
In 1 Kings 19:16 we find another example of anointing being used to set someone apart for a particular purpose. In this case, Elijah’s days as a prophet were numbered.
“. . . Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet,” he was told (New International Version).
What significance does this have in Jesus Christ’s life and mission? He was often called a prophet (John 6:14, John 7:40), and said of Himself that He was a prophet (Luke 4:24, Luke 13:33). He clearly foretold the future during His physical ministry on earth. In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, He prophesied of events that would lead up to His return to earth. The four Gospels contain many prophecies about His disciples and the future Church, and the book of Revelation is called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1).
Is foretelling the future the most important thing Christ discussed? Even though Christ did foresee the future, that is a relatively small part of what is recorded for us about Him and His life. A prophet isn’t just someone who reveals the future. A prophet is someone who reveals the will and purpose of God to mankind.
What did Christ speak about during His time on earth?
“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak . . . Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50).
Divine and holy teacher
What did He reveal? “Whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” He revealed exactly what God the Father told Him to reveal. Jesus Christ taught and revealed the plan, purpose and will of God. He foretold the future, but even more than that, He was a divine and holy Teacher, revealing God’s wonderful purpose and plan for mankind.
In Luke 10, Christ discussed what He revealed to people.
“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what You were pleased to do.,’” (verse 21, NIV).
What was it that was being revealed?
“All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him,” (verse 22, NIV).
Christ was revealing God the Father. He was revealing a new view of God, a new understanding of God. His fellow Jews had previously understood God as a sort of national champion, the “father” of their nation who had worked mighty miracles in the days of their forefathers. But Jesus Christ revealed a very different understanding: a loving God, gently caring for His followers as a father loves his own children.
The Father that Jesus Christ revealed was a God who desired a close personal relationship with His people. He revealed a God wanting to share all things with His children, to forgive them, to heal them, to bless them and to give them eternal life in His Kingdom. Jesus Christ Himself personified that love. Throughout His life and ministry, He revealed a love far beyond what they could have understood earlier: a love so deep that God would give His very Son as a sacrifice to reconcile each of His children to Him.
This understanding of God was a wonderful truth, said Jesus.
“Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it,’” (verses 23-24, NIV).
We see that Jesus Christ was anointed to be a prophet, not just foretelling the future, but more importantly revealing God’s will, purpose and plan to mankind and showing us what a loving God we worship!
© Scott Ashley, 2025. All rights reserved.
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Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
