The name Christ is the Greek word for Messiah which means “anointed one” in Hebrew. In the Bible, priests and kings were anointed with oil which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. “Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on” (1 Samuel 16:13). David was anointed to be king over Israel because God had declared him to be a man after his own heart. God made a covenant with David, promising that one of his sons would sit on Israel’s throne forever. Matthew 1 reveals the genealogy of Jesus, confirming he’s a descendant of King David. This qualifies him to be the Messiah who is also known as the Son of David. Jesus is not only a man after God’s own heart but the perfect representation of God’s heart.
Isaiah 11 reveals that the promised heir to King David’s throne will not only reign over Israel, but “will be a banner of salvation to all the world” (Isaiah 11:10). God promised that “out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-2). The Spirit rested on Jesus at his baptism.Acts 10:38 says that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Isaiah 9 describes the Messiah as our Prince of Peace, saying, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7, NIV). How is it that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah, yet he is not recognized as Israel’s king? If he is establishing and upholding David’s kingdom “from that time on and forever,” how is that possible when the world is still under the dominion of Satan, whom Jesus acknowledged as the “ruler of this world” in Johnn 12:31?
David was anointed as king but did not become king for fifteen years until after King Saul died. During that time, God was testing and preparing him to not only be a king but a spiritual leader of Israel. What if being the Son of David is not just a title or genealogy, but a pattern for how God establishes his Son as King? What if being anointed doesn’t mean being immediately exalted as a leader? These are important questions because what we believe about being anointed and preparation for leadership in God’s Kingdom affects how we view challenges and suffering. If we think being anointed is all about immediate glory, we need to look at the life of David and the template Jesus followed.
David began as a shepherd who learned how to care for people by caring for sheep. Jesus declared in John 10 that he is the Good Shepherd. David was a warrior who began his ascension to the throne by defeating the giant, Goliath, as a defender of Israel who brought glory to God. Likewise, immediately after Jesus’ baptism when he was anointed by the Spirit for ministry, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to battle Satan. After he won that battle by remaining loyal to God, he returned in the power of the Holy Spirit and began doing miracles. After David’s successful battles, King Saul became jealous and tried to kill David, sending him into hiding where he amassed followers who were the discontented and those in debt. Jesus preached good news to the poor and was followed by the discontented. When Jesus became more popular than the religious leaders, they conspired to have him killed.
Even though he was God’s anointed, David refused to take the throne by force. Twice David had the opportunity to kill King Saul who was trying to kill him, yet he showed love to his enemy and waited for God’s timing to become king. When Jesus was betrayed and arrested, he willingly went to his death, reminding his disciples “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Matthew 26:53). Both David and Jesus were anointed as king yet waited patiently for God to exalt them as king. 1 Peter 5:6 declares this to be God’s way: “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
After 15 years of waiting, King Saul died and God told David to go to Hebron where they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah, the Jews. Jesus was crowned with thorns and crucified on a cross where they hung a sign in mockery declaring him to be the King of the Jews. Though received by a small remnant of believers, Jesus was rejected by the leaders of the Jews. He ascended to the Father to reign over all who willingly receive him as their King. David wrote prophetically about Jesus in Psalm 110:1: “The LORD said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’”
David ruled over Judah in Hebron for over 7 years until he was finally received as king over all of Israel. What changed? 2 Samual 5:1-3 reveals, “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.”’ 3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.” David waited until he was asked to be king. The Son of David follows in his footsteps. Jesus is waiting for every tribe and nation to confess him as King of Kings and enter into covenant with him. He doesn’t want our forced confession, but our recognition that he is our Shepherd, Deliverer, and rightful King. Romans 11 reveals that at the end of the age of Gentiles coming to Christ, the Jews will recognize him as their Messiah, too.
When the Apostle John sees a future vision of God’s throne room, a question is raised of who is worthy to open a scroll that no one has been found worthy to open. One of the twenty-four elders in heaven declares, “Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). Why is Jesus considered worthy? Revelation 5:9-10 records the song sung in heaven about Jesus: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” The Anointed One was crushed like the olives that release anointing oil so that we could be ransomed as anointed priests who reign with Christ.
Identity Puzzle Piece: Who are we in the Anointed One, the Son of David? Anointed ones who suffer with Christ to reign with Christ.
Jesus is worthy to open the scroll that brings all the promises of God into fulfillment because of what he suffered so that people from all nations can be ransomed. Our hope is found in the sacrifice of Jesus which qualified him to reign because he has also qualified us to reign with him. However, Romans 8:17 reminds us that if we are to share in Christ’s glory when he is revealed to the earth, we must also share in his suffering. Like David and Jesus, we experience spiritual warfare and suffer persecution from those who reject God. Yet in our suffering we draw comfort from Christ because he chose to draw near to us in our suffering. The best leaders lead by example, and God does not ask us to do what he’s not willing to do. In suffering we encounter the God who loves us enough to meet us in our pain and take it upon himself. When we encounter the Messiah who suffers, we encounter the compassionate love of God who steps into our pain and walks through it with us.
Jesus identified himself as the suffering servant David described in Psalm 22. This psalm begins with the very words Jesus cried out on the cross at his crucifixion, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, NIV). The gospels record several passages from the Psalms that connect Jesus with David in his suffering. Psalm 41:9 says, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” In John 13:18-26 Jesus explicitly explains that he is sharing bread with his betrayer, “to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me’” (John 13:18).
Jesus didn’t just suffer on the cross, he suffered betrayal by those close to him and slander from the religious leaders who should have recognized him and honored him. When he healed people on the Sabbath, they accused him of breaking God’s laws. When he cast out demons, they said it was by the devil’s power. His own brothers didn’t believe in him and his disciples failed to understand his mission. Jesus understands the pain we experience in relationships. He experienced disappointment, frustration, and every challenge we face so that he can love us with compassion. He is qualified to lead us through the battlefield of life because he is one who understands suffering and spiritual warfare.
I remember visiting the garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem where Jesus was betrayed by Judas. As I sat in the olive grove, asking Jesus what he wanted me to know, he said, “This is where I forgave my betrayer. If I could forgive him, you can forgive yours.” Somehow, the gravity of that place impacted my soul with the reality that Jesus understood my betrayal. He wasn’t minimizing it but identifying with it and inviting me to get freedom from it through forgiveness. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus made the decision to obey God in the face of pain and suffering so he can help us walk the road of suffering.
“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8). Jesus learned what it’s like for us to obey God in the midst of suffering. He pleaded with God for another way other than the cross because he knew the cross would involve pain. Luke 22:42 records Jesus’ prayer of submission, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Jesus submitted to the will of the Father so that he could not only save us but minister to us when we feel crushed.
In the Bible, kings were anointed with olive oil which is produced in an olive press. Anointed ones are pressed between the weight of God’s glory that causes us to go low while the world pressures us to exalt ourselves. As we submit to the weighty presence of God, the oil of the Spirit is released. The pressure we feel is not because God is against us but because he is using whatever trials we encounter to teach us humility and dependence upon him. Yeast in the Bible represents pride, inflated ego that puffs us up. Jesus warned his disciples of the yeast of the Pharisees, their religious pride that leads to hypocrisy. Pride inflates, but those who are anointed go low in humility so that we’re not led by pride and ego, but trust in God and love for people. When we submit to the anointing, God allows pride to be crushed so that the oil of the Spirit can be released. For as God told Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we feel crushed, we can receive comfort from the Psalms of David. God called him a man after his own heart, yet his emotions were all over the map. One moment he’s up, the next he’s down. He didn’t hide how he felt from God, pretending like everything was fine. He was raw and honest with God which gives us permission to bring all our big feelings and disappointments to Jesus. When facing persecution and difficulty, we can come to the Lord like David and pour out our heart, bringing every emotion before him. Jesus cried out on the cross because he was in pain. God doesn’t tell us to suck it up buttercup. He gives us grace in trials to process pain with him, find strength in his promises, and peace in his presence.
Christ, the Anointed One, in Me: Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). When we submit to the crushing of the anointing for the sake of the Good News, we transfer our hope from the things of this world to the coming Kingdom in which those who suffer with Christ will reign with him. Laying down our lives is not the end but the beginning of the journey of learning to love God and others as Christ loves us. We die to self-promotion to position ourselves for Kingdom advancement.
In Mark 9:35 Jesus reveals the path to greatness in his kingdom: “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Jesus’ followers don’t just take up a cross, they take up a towel to wash feet and carry kids in the nursery. Jesus said, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest” (Luke 9:48). There are going to be a lot of moms and nursery volunteers heralded in heaven as being the greatest in God’s kingdom, so let it be on earth as it is in heaven! Let’s serve with joy and enthusiasm, trusting Jesus’ promise that “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:4). Loving and serving those whom society considers the “least” is the path to greatness in the Kingdom. God will reward us in his way and in his timing.
When I prayed to receive the gifts of the Spirit, I literally felt invisible oil running down my head for two days. The Holy Spirit anointed me with a gift of discerning of spirits through my physical senses. I thought, “Wow! This is cool! Now I’m going to do great things for God!” However, my anointing didn’t lead to a platform, it led to a basement where I taught a handful of people. Then it led to another basement where I ministered to the homeless, people battling addiction, those trying to rebuild their lives after prison, and the marginalized from society. Instead of being promoted in the church, I stepped down from my position because the Spirit led me to minister to people outside the church in obscurity. The Spirit anoints us to humbly love and serve because ministry is not about a position, it’s about Jesus.
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2). By fixing our eyes on Jesus, meditating on his life and communing with him in prayer, we are strengthened to overcome the demands of our pride and humble ourselves in service to Jesus. We serve because he’s worthy of honor, not because we’re trying to make ourselves worthy of honor. Jesus basked in the Father’s delight and his future hope of seeing the whole earth redeemed. We receive those same eyes of faith when we make Jesus the focus of our attention.
Jesus promised, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). The Prince of Peace gives us the gift of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, with a promise that “the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6, NIV). Peter tells us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:12-14). We are blessed with the power and presence of the Spirit who rests on us just like he rested on David and Jesus. God’s presence with us enables us to remain in peace, filled with the hope of a future glory to sustain us through trials.
As we bring our crushed emotions to Jesus, he comforts us and counsels us in how to love one another. The oil of the Spirit is released so we can comfort others. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:6, “Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.” Jesus ministers to us so we can patiently endure trials, and the Spirit ministers through us so others can benefit from the comfort we’ve received. Empathy is a powerful tool in ministry.
Though we face persecution and trials, they are preparing us like David so we can reign with Christ. Therefore, we hold onto hope as we hold onto Christ through every storm. We remain confident that Jesus meets us in our suffering and loves us through it. For as Paul declares, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:35-36, 37).
How do we live in this victory? Before David was chosen to lead, he was a worshiper. Jesus anoints us with his Spirit so we can worship in the Spirit and in truth. When we worship God in every season, like David, drawing near to him and giving him glory in the cave and on the battlefield, we overcome discouragement and remain connected to the source of life and hope. Jesus is our King, and as we exalt him, he empowers us by his Spirit to live in his victory. “Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:12-15). Faith is the victory!
Identity Declaration: Jesus, the Son of David, is preparing me to reign with him when he returns. I voluntarily lay down my life to love and serve people in humility and hiddenness because I follow the King who came not to be served but to serve. I can endure trials and persecution with joy, knowing they are purifying me of ego, enabling me to share in Jesus’ sufferings so I can share in his glory. Jesus anoints me with his presence and comforts me so I can comfort others in their suffering.
Reflection: How can I love others as the Anointed One who shares in my suffering has loved me?
The Word Remaining in Me:
- Read God’s description of his chosen servant, the Messiah, in Isaiah 42:1-7. What does this tell you about how Jesus serves and the purpose of leadership?
- Read Mark 10:42-45 and Philippians 2:1-18. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight what he wants you to know about the humility of Jesus who came to serve, not to be served. How does knowing who you are in Christ enable you to do small acts of service and obey when no one is watching?
- 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (NIV). How do we stand firm in Christ? How is the Spirit’s presence a deposit of what is to come in the new heaven and earth? How does that change how we think and live? Paul says God anointed “us,” not just him. If you don’t know if you have the anointing, Jesus tells us in Luke 11:13 to ask and you will receive!
- Read Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 15:18-27. Jesus tells his followers they must tell people about him, yet this assignment comes with persecution. What do verses 22-23 reveal about why people reject the message of Jesus? Go to the beginning of chapter 15 and read verses 1-17. According to these verses, how does Jesus equip us to reveal him to the world in the midst of trials and persecutions?
Remaining in Love: Is there any unprocessed pain from betrayal or disappointment that you need to pour out to Jesus? Consider writing down your feelings like David did. For an example of a faith-filled lament, read Psalm 22. Jesus quoted this psalm on the cross because it pointed to the suffering he endured for our sake. Write your own faith-filled lament, being honest about your pain while declaring God’s sovereignty, goodness, and ability to deliver you. David mixed in praise and declarations of who God is with his honest confession of pain, and this is how we stand in faith while awaiting God’s deliverance. Invite Jesus to step into your pain, comfort you, help you forgive and receive peace.
Bonus Online Content
Click here for a PDF of the Small Group Discussion Guide and Fun, Interactive Family Lesson
Worshiping in the Midst of Trials like David:
- Click here to worship God as the one who fights for you (“God is Not Against Me” by Elevation Worship)
- Click here to worship God when you feel overwhelmed (“God I Look to You” by Bethel Music)
- Click here to worship Jesus, the Defender of your heart (“Defender” live version by Jesus Culture)
Identity Scriptures to Memorize and Pray as Anointed Ones in Christ, the Son of David:
Jesus, you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The whole earth is your inheritance. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for resting upon me as I remain in Christ. You are the deposit of my inheritance who enables me to do good works as a branch of Jesus. You are the source of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. You anoint me to bring good news to the poor, comfort the brokenhearted, and set free those who are in bondage to the lies of the devil. Thank you, Jesus, that you never leave me or forsake me but draw near to me in suffering. In every crushing trial I face, you are with me, producing the oil of anointing which flows as compassion toward those who suffer. Jesus, you are worthy of glory and worthy of my life laid down in humility. May Jesus be exalted through me.
“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:1-2).
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Isaiah 61:1-2).
“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
“[God] anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NIV).
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:12-14).
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