There has been a lot of talk recently about what it means to be anointed. The word itself is used 96 times in 94 verses in the NASB. In all but three of the uses it is always used in the context of referring to someone else. I had spoken earlier about conceited people being reprimanded with the phrase, “Don’t blow your own horn.” And that is true with the word anointed. Only two people out of the 96 uses ever referred to themselves as anointed, David and Jesus:
- 2 Samuel 2:7 NASB – 7 “Now therefore, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- Isaiah 61:1 NASB – 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
- Luke 4:18 NASB – 18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
There was an old saying that got used quite a bit while I was in high school, “If you got it, you might as well flaunt it.” My favorite response to that was, “If you got it, there is no need to flaunt it.” Like love, once something is demanded, then it is no longer a free gift. The unspoken theology is that if you are anointed, then there is nothing wrong in letting the whole world know. There is no need to constantly remind the world through books, blogs, and YouTube. The overwhelming example of Scripture is that anointing is bestowed, not self-proclaimed.
At least five times we find Jesus commanding someone healed or his disciples to tell no one.
- Matthew 8:4 NASB – 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Matthew 16:20 NASB – 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
- Mark 8:30 NASB – 30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
- Luke 5:14 NASB – 14 And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
- Luke 8:56 NASB – 56 Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.
Apparently, Jesus did not see the need to emphasize who he was. He was secure in who he was. He did lay out the great commission but even that was not to brag on who he was, but to make disciples because of who he was.
- Matthew 28:18-20 NASB – 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
When we are truly secure in who we are, the less we need to remind others.
As always, love much my friends . . .
Unspoken Theology 