"The Anointed One"

Isaiah 50: 4-7 ~~~ Ps. 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 ~~~ Phil. 2 6:11 ~~~ Mark 14: 1- 15:1-47

"...a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil..."

"...she broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head..."

Anointing  with oil is found numerous times in the Bible...

 Exodus 29:7

"Then take the anointing oil and anoint him with it, pouring it on his head." This is part of the consecration of Aaron as a priest. Still to this day anointing with holy oil is part of the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Psalm 133:2

"...Like precious ointment on the head, running down upon the beard..." here unity is declared blessed, like the holy oils upon the priest.

1Samuel 10:1

 " Then from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul's head; he also kissed him, saying: 'The Lord anoints you commander over his heritage." He continues..."The spirit of the Lord will rush upon you...God is with you."

Scriptures first recording of the anointing of a king.

To be anointed is to be made sacred, consecrated, set apart, or chosen for some purpose, dedicated to serve God. The pouring of expensive oil over the head of Jesus was in recognition of his being exceptionally chosen...set apart for all eternity.
The fragrance of the oil caused all present to take note.
Just as a woman wearing strong perfume passing by leaves
 her scent lingering in the air.
A fragrant oil is more concentrated and has a longer staying power.

The ancient Hebrew form of 'Messiah' and the Greek form of 'Christ' both mean anointed. This woman is presenting herself with oil to worship the one who is the Messiah...not yet fully realized among the others present.

Some of those closest to him, Peter and John,
refer to Jesus as 'The Anointed One'.

This woman poured expensive spikenard oil over Jesus. It was worth an average worker's annual wages. She poured over him a years worth of oil in order to properly anoint Jesus. She chose to offer the finest oil available to her.

Jesus is touched by her profound display of love and devotion to him.

Jesus speaks to this woman tenderly even as the others are complaining about her wastefulness. "...She has done a good thing for me...She has anticipated anointing my body for burial...". She was already mourning his death.

What immediately follows, we know, is the entry into the city for the Passover feast. The Last Supper...the betrayal, the arrest and ultimately the cricifixion of

The Anointed One

The One Chosen by God

The One Set Apart

Have you ever considered anointing yourself in the morning with your favorite fragrant oil? I am serious. As you begin your morning, sign yourself with oil with the intention of consecrating your day to God.
In all that you do and say throughout the day.

Then say your prayers.

I think if we made such a committment;

our whole day might be lived in a more holy state of mind.

" In the inner stillness where meditation leads
the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds."
St. John of the Cross