You Have Been Anointed by Jesus
12/3 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 2; 1 John 2; Nahum 1; Luke 17
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12/3 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 2; 1 John 2; Nahum 1; Luke 17
1 John 2:20
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
ANOINTED
Yesterday’s verse for our devotional meditation (1 Jn 1:1), we considered the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Messiah, and John’s excitement of that truth. It was more than a mere statement made in order to confound the gnostic heresy so prevalent at the end of the first century, but it was also a statement of love, joy, and wonder. During Christ’s earthly ministry, before He went to the cross, John, his brother James, and nine others walked with Jesus and believed Jesus was the Messiah, the only exception being Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord. Yet the magnitude of the magnificence of Christ’s incarnation, God becoming a Man, was not as impactful until after Jesus gave His life on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit was sent, John says that you and I should have the same love, joy, and wonder over Christ’s incarnation. Being anointed by God’s redeeming grace in Christ, every single one of who are saved have knowledge. What knowledge is that? Knowing Christ, knowing His love for us, His mercy toward us, and His grace upon us. John wrote of that anointed work in his gospel account, when Jesus spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit. Because of the Holy Spirit, we know Christ Jesus more intimately than any Old Testament prophet, and even more than Christ’s disciples before the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit teaches us all we must know of Christ (not everything there is to know of Christ because we can never come to the end of the Infinite) and even brings those things to our remembrance (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit bears witness of Christ (John 15:26), not only when He awakened us to the gospel so we may be saved and believe by faith, but also to continue to testify of the Lord Jesus from Scripture when we read, to see Christ in other believers when we fellowship, and to see the hope of Christ saving those who do not yet know Him.. The Holy Spirit guides us into every truth of Christ you and I need to be strengthened while still dwelling in this sin-riddled world (John 16:13) because the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14). There is so much more that comes from Jesus anointing us with the Holy Spirit; however, let these meditations suffice us today, and let us rejoice in the wonder that God, the second person of the Trinity, became a flesh and bone Man! Hallelujah! What a Savior!