Anointing oils help show, in a symbolic form, faith in Jesus Christ. That he will answer our prayers and connect with us, bringing divine intervention; Used to consecrate something to the faith or sanctify it, anointing oil can be applied for healing, used as an inspiring and delightful perfume, it can be utilized for hygiene purposes, in the process of embalming or for funerary purposes, or to prepare and consecrate weapons for war to protect the wielder. The scripture references
anointing oil in several contexts, and these all have relevance to the practice of using it today in Christianity.
It is important to note that anointing oils as of themselves have no special powers, but rather they are used to symbolize the powerful relationship with Jesus and God, and through that gains
meaningfulness and purpose. The resulting answers to the prayers we send to the heavens are not because of anointing oil, it is merely a good conduit and helpful way to inspire and relegate prayers upward.
God always knows what we need even before we ask him and he shows us just how to pray. (Matthew 6:9-10) "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven". (1 John 5:14-15) "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him". That's why we pray for god's will to be done, over our own, because God knows what is best for us. (Luke 22:42). "Not my will, but Thine".
Anointing oil is therefore used to pray for people and as a healing process, but it doesn't have a lot of its own benefits, it derives its power from the faith and God bestows health upon those who should be healthy. Anointing oil should never be the only medical treatment sought, we are expected to do our due diligence to get medical care.
Anointing oil is a type of unguent prepared from olive oil, either on its own or with added floral or herbal fragrances. Gums, resins, seeds, spices or other plants may also be added to the anointing oil. Sometimes the formula in ancient times was very simple, consisting of one or two active ingredients plus the olive oil base, while other times, the formulas could be a quite complex mixture. These oils had special aromas and distinct properties, and were more than just perfumes.
Biblically, anointing oil was commonly used by the Hebrews and other nations to anoint people into kingship or priestly duties.
It was also the custom of the Jews in like manner to anoint themselves, possibly with oil, as a simple refreshment of their bodies, (Deuteronomy 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam 14:2; Micah 6:15; Psalms 104:15, Proverbs 27:9; Amos 6:6 etc.), a practice continued today in some Arabian communities.
In Luke 7:38,46, anointing is depicted as an act of hospitality.
In several points in the Bible,(Psalms 109:18; Isaiah 1:6; Mark 6:13; James 5:14) anointing oil is utilized for its medicinal purposes, dressing woulds and being applied on those who were sick.
It is true that some high quality anointing oils may be used for the properties of the ingredients they contain, as they are unadulterated and these herbs have medicinal properties. Some of them calm, others give energy, and others speed healing processes.
"Anoint the shield" (Isaiah 21:5), shows the custom to rub oil into the leather of a shield to prepare it for use in war.
The bodies of the dead were sometimes anointed (Mark 14:8; Luke 23:56).
Anointing oil can be used to purify the body (Oil of Myrrh) Esther 2:12;
The secret holy anointing oil in the Bible (Exodus 30 Holy Oil) is the only formula expressly mentioned for use for consecrating objects, but anointing oils today may be used for this purpose as well.
The deliverer is called the "Anointed" or in Hebrew, Messiah (Psalms 2:2; Daniel 9:25,26), because he is one of the positions meant to be anointed with the Holy anointing oil (Isaiah 61:1),the "oil of gladness" (Psalms 45:7; Hebrews 1:9). Jesus of Nazareth is was anointed as such(John 1:41; Acts 9:22; 17:2,3; 18:5,28), the Messiah.
The act of anointing something consecrates it and dedicates it to a holy or Godly use, such as in (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3) where they anoint the high priest, and in (Exodus 30:26) the sacred vessels if the Temple. Also kings were anointed, which was ceremonially showing that they were chosen to be king by God, something akin to crowning them (1 Samuel 16:13; Sam 2:4, etc.). Also prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalms 105:15 ).
Spiritual anointing with the Holy Ghost is a unique gift given to Christians by God. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 1 John 2:27) " Anointing "expresses the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit upon Christians. (2 Corinthians 1:21) "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God." (1 John 2:27) "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him".
All of the believers of Jesus have thus been anointed in this way, and may anoint in their faith to dedicate things or heal people through the miracles of Jesus and God.
