Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, and of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
Exodus 30:22–25
Here we see the “recipe” for the anointing oil used throughout Israel’s history to anoint three groups of people: prophets, priests, and kings. Oil in Scripture is always emblematic of the Spirit. Therefore, anointing with oil is a picture of the work of the Spirit. As the “Prophet . . . like unto me” of Deuteronomy 18:15, as our great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), as King of kings and Lord of lords at whose name every knee will one day bow (Romans 14:11), Jesus is the Anointed One. Comprised of the sweet-smelling spices of myrrh, cinnamon, and calamus, this oil was sweet, for Jesus, the Anointed One, is nothing but sweet. He is never grouchy, discouraged, or depressed. He is never out of sorts, under the weather, or in a bad mood. He is the sweetest person you’ll ever encounter day after day after day.
“Didn’t He call the Pharisees blind guides, hypocrites, and whitewashed sepulchres? That’s not very sweet,” you may say.
Actually, it was. Knowing it would take that kind of language to break through their thick skulls, hard hearts, and closed minds, Jesus used language intended to jar them into listening. And even though He called them whitewashed tombs, hypocrites, and blind guides, some of their number sensed that He loved them, as seen in their desire to spend time with Him (Luke 11:37; John 3:1).
By Pastor Jon Courson
