Having discussed the Person of the Mediator, it now follows that our discussion focuses on His offices. The Savior Jesus generally is also called Christ. The Savior had been promised in the Old Testament under the name שּׂיח (Meschiach), “unto the Messiah the Prince” (Dan 9:25). The Greek have translated this as Χριστός (Christos). “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” (John 1:41). The meaning in our language is “Anointed One,” which is derived from the Old Testament practice of anointing. In those times and places, rather than using a fragrant powder for one’s hair as we do, they used fragrant oils which, by way of the apothecary’s art, were created as a very choice mixture whereby all its fragrance was derived from mixing a small quantity of ingredients together, creating a quintam essentium. This oil would be sprinkled in the hair in small quantities in order to make one’s appearance presentable, and by the loveliness of the fragrance to make oneself desirable in the presence of others. The Lord had commanded to make a special oil from various fragrant spices according to the art of the apothecary (Exod 30:32). No one was permitted either to imitate this or to sprinkle with this ointment, the violation of this injunction resulting in being cut off from his people (Exod 30:32-33). With this oil Aaron and his sons were anointed to minister in the priest’s office (vs. 30). Prophets, as well as kings (1 Sam 10:1; 1 Sam 16:13), were anointed with this oil (1 Kings 19:16).
The Anointed One: Foreordained and Qualified
This anointment was expressive of two matters. It first of all conveyed that such persons were foreordained and called to this office by God, for one would smell the fragrance of the Lord upon this person. Secondly, it conveyed that the Lord would qualify such persons for that office. Thereby they would be desirable to the people, as the fragrance of this oil was most desirable and the anointed one would exude a pleasant scent due to the fragrance of this oil. Therefore they were called the anointed ones, and the anointed of the Lord. Christ is thus called the Anointed One, being expressive of those two matters: foreordination and qualification.
We shall first of all consider foreordination. Christ did not take the office of Mediator upon Himself by His own initiative. “so also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest” (Heb 5:5).
(1) He was ordained to this office by His Father. “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet 1:20); “I was set up from everlasting” (Prov 8:23).
(2) The Father sent Him into the world for that purpose. “… Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world …” (John 10:36). He also called Him. “I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness” (Isa 42:6). He was inaugurated into this office at His baptism. “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). He was thus made “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
Secondly, His qualification consists in:
(1) the union of the two natures in one Person, without which He could not have been Mediator. God by Himself or man by himself would not have been qualified, but God had to be manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16);
(2) an extraordinary anointing of the Holy Spirit. “For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him” (John 3:34).
Just as three categories of individuals were anointed as types of Christ—prophets, priests, and kings—it was thus necessary that Christ would also have these three offices and minister in them, so that He would be able to remove the threefold misery of man. He removes blindness by His prophetic office, enmity with God by His priestly office, and inability by His kingly office. That Christ is Prophet, Priest, and King, ministering in these three offices on behalf of His elect, is evident throughout the Holy Scriptures. We will consider each office in particular.
The Prophetical Office of Christ
The prophetical office of Christ is confirmed by both prophecy and fulfillment.
(1) He was promised as a prophet in Deut 18:15, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.” Acts 3:22 confirms that this reference is to Christ; these very words are quoted as relating to Christ. Consider also the following text: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.” etc. (Isa 61:1-2). Having read these words, the Lord Jesus applied them to Himself, saying, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21), and in verse 24 He refers to Himself as a Prophet.