From Anointing to Ointment

How God’s Anointing Oil of Favor Still Heals Today

The word anointing shows up often in church conversations, yet many people only think of it as something that happened in Bible times — when prophets poured oil on kings or priests before their service. But anointing is far more than a ceremonial ritual. It’s a picture of God’s favor, empowerment, and healing made visible.

The Root of the Word

In Hebrew, the word anoint comes from מָשַׁח (māshach), which means to smear, rub, or apply oil. From this same root we also get מִשְׁחָה (mishchah), meaning ointment or anointing oil, and מָשִׁיחַ (māshîaḥ), meaning anointed one — or as we say in English, Messiah.

So from the very beginning, the idea of anointing carried two sides:

• a physical act — oil being rubbed or poured on something or someone, and
• a spiritual reality — God’s presence and favor being poured out.

The oil represented what could not be seen: the Spirit of God resting upon a person to empower them for a purpose.

The First Anointing

The first time we see anointing in Scripture is in Genesis 28:18. After dreaming of a ladder stretching between heaven and earth, Jacob wakes up amazed at God’s presence. He takes the stone he used as a pillow, sets it upright, and pours oil on it. Then he names the place Bethel — “House of God.”

Jacob wasn’t anointing a person, but a place. His act declared: “God met me here. This spot belongs to Him.”

That first anointing teaches us something simple yet profound: when God shows up, we mark it. We take what is ordinary and set it apart for His purpose. For believers today, that means every moment where we sense God’s presence — whether in prayer, at work, or on a quiet walk — can become holy ground.

The First Anointed Person

Later, in Exodus 29:7, God instructs Moses to pour oil on Aaron’s head, anointing him as high priest. The act was more than symbolic. It meant Aaron now carried a divine assignment — to stand before God on behalf of the people.

Anointing, then, was God’s way of saying, “This one is mine. I’ve chosen and empowered him for My work.” Kings like Saul and David were later anointed the same way, showing that God’s authority rested on them.

For us, this points to the truth that God still chooses and empowers ordinary people. When the Holy Spirit fills a believer, it is as though God has poured His oil upon their life — marking them as His, calling them to serve, and giving them the strength to do it.

Anointing and Healing

The idea of anointing didn’t stop with kings and priests. Oil was also used as medicine. In Isaiah 1:6, wounds are said to be “neither bandaged nor softened with oil.” In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34), the rescuer “poured oil and wine” on the injured man’s wounds.

By the time we reach the New Testament, oil becomes closely tied to healing and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In Mark 6:13, the disciples “anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” In James 5:14–15, believers are told:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”

The oil itself had no power, but it represented something powerful — faith in God’s promise to heal. It was an outward expression of inward trust, a reminder that God’s Spirit still brings restoration to body and soul.

The Ultimate Anointed One

The greatest fulfillment of all these pictures is found in Jesus, whose very title — Christ — means the Anointed One. Acts 10:38 says,

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”

Everything Jesus did — healing the sick, forgiving sins, calming storms — flowed from that divine anointing. He was and is the living embodiment of God’s favor poured out on humanity.

And when we place our faith in Him, that same anointing — the Holy Spirit — is poured into us. As 1 John 2:27 says, “The anointing you received from Him abides in you.”

What This Means for Us Today

Anointing isn’t just an Old Testament ritual or a church ceremony. It’s an ongoing reality for every believer. God still anoints His people today — not with a jar of oil but with His Spirit.

That means:

• You don’t need to chase favor; you already have it if you belong to Christ.
• You don’t walk alone; the Spirit of the Anointed One lives within you.
• You can pray for the sick, speak life, and carry hope because the same power that worked through Jesus now works in you.

Whether you’re praying over someone in need, dedicating a home or business, or asking God to heal a heart that’s broken — anointing reminds us of this unshakable truth: God’s presence still touches ordinary things and makes them sacred.