We see a pattern throughout the Bible, whether in the old testament or in the new testament, that substantiates the three Anointings. For example, David was Anointed first at Bethlehem *'when Samuel took the horn of oil and Anointed David in the presence of his brothers'* ( 1 Samuel 16:1-13) to be the next king of Israel. He was Anointed a second time when *'the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they Anointed David king over the house of Judah'* ( 2 Samuel 2:4). He was Anointed a third time *'when all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron ... And they Anointed David king over Israel'* ( 2 Samuel 5:1-3) Each Anointing made him even more powerful and helped him to consolidate his position as king.
Even the law of Moses had prescribed three Anointings for three specific occasions. The person who was healed of his infectious skin disease ( traditionally leprosy), had to be *sprinkled with the blood of the guilt offering and be Anointed with oil by the priest at the time of his ceremonial cleansing* ( Leviticus 14:15-18). That is why Jesus said to the ten lepers: *"Go, show yourselves to the Priest". And as they went, they were cleansed.'* ( Luke 17:14) It came to be known as the *Leper's Anointing* and it parallels the cleansing of a sinner *with the blood of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit.* Hence can be called the *sinner's anointing!* The second Anointing prescribed by the law was for ordaining a priest. ( Leviticus 8:12,30) This came to be known as the *priestly Anointing* and it parallels the *Anointing with the Holy Spirit* to be *'a royal priesthood'* ( 1 Peter 2:9); *'priests of God and of Christ'* ( Revelation 20:6). The third Anointing prescribed by law was for ordaining a king, as we saw in the life of David. This came to be known as the *kingly Anointing* and it parallels the *Apostolic Anointing with power* to govern the Church.
Even Jesus was Anointed thrice! *'God Anointed Jesus of Nazareth, with the Holy Spirit and power'* ( Acts 10:38) and he became *'the Apostle and Highpriest whom we confess.* ( Hebrews 3:1) Since he was without sin, he was Anointed only with Holy Spirit and power, not requiring the sinner's anointing. However, he was Anointed thrice with *nard* (a much-prized fragrant oil extracted from a plant believed to be Nardostachys grandiflora and used as a perfume) before his death; twice poured on his feet, first by a sinful woman while reclining at the table at a *Pharisee's house* ( Luke 7:36-50) and then by Mary, six days before the Passover, while reclining at the table at *Lazarus' house* ( John 12:1-3) and once poured on his head by a woman, two days before the Passover, while reclining at the table at the *house of Simon the Leper* ( Mark 14:1-3) - All this while we thought all these narratives were one and the same but turns out to be at *three different houses by three different women!* What Jesus said in response to the sinful woman is not what he said to the other two! To the sinful woman he said, *"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."* ( Luke 7:50) but of the other woman, he said, *"She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial."*( Mark 14:8) But why three? A coincidence! There are no coincidences with God, because Jesus said of Mary, *"It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial."* ( John 12:7)
Even the disciples themselves were Anointed thrice! It happened the first time when *'on the evening of the first day ... Jesus came and stood among them ... he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."'* ( John 20:22) Speaking of the same event, Luke writes: *'Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.'* ( Luke 24:45) Obviously, it was the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit which opened their minds! And speaking of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, John writes: *'As for you, the Anointing you received from him remains in you ... his Anointing teaches you about all things ... just as it* ( not *'He'* meaning the Anointing and not the Person) *has taught you, remain in him.'* ( 1 John 2:27)
The three evidences of the first Anointing in our lives would be the opening of our minds to understand Scriptures as experienced by the Apostles, our prayer life as did the Apostles ( Acts 1:14) and our overcoming of sin as reiterated by Apostle John : *'No one who is born of God will continue in sin'* ( 1 John 3:9) for *'everyone born of God overcomes the world'* ( 5:4). With the second Anointing in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they began to *preach the Word* ( Acts 2:14) and *perform wonders and miraculous signs* ( Acts 2:43) and *'filled Jerusalem with their teaching'* ( Acts 5:28). And with the third Anointing with power, the Apostles began to *impart the Spirit by the laying on of hands* (Acts 8:18), did *extraordinary miracles* ( Acts 5:15,19:11-12) and the nation of Israel and the nations of the world were reached with the Gospel. It will take the three Anointings for us to do what the Apostles did and establish the kingdom of God on earth. Amen.
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