The Anointed One
Scripture Reading — Mark 1:1-13
As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Centuries after Elijah and Elisha were at the Jordan River (2 Kings 2), the Spirit of God descended “like a dove” on Jesus there, as he received baptism from John the Baptist. Jesus was the “Christ,” the “Anointed One.” In the Old Testament three kinds of people were anointed to special tasks—priests, rulers, and prophets. Jesus Christ became the ultimate fulfillment of all these roles. The Anointed One became our supreme Prophet, our perfect High Priest, and our almighty King.
If we carry his name, being called “Christian,” we also share in his anointing. We are called to be priests, rulers, and prophets in God’s kingdom.
So what is God asking us to do? We are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit we’ve been given—like Jesus and the prophets who came before him. Today this means we make known to the world the good news of Jesus. We make God’s presence known through our words and actions. We are to speak out, not remain silent. We are to act with courage, not retreat in fear. We are to offer God’s compassion to the world instead of indifference.
When we pick up the cloak of the prophet, accepting the anointing to which we are called, God will use us to be the persons through whom the good news is preached and the name of Jesus is known.
Jesus, we gladly join you and accept the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Help us to bring the good news of your great salvation and new life to all people, announcing, “Our Lord has come!” Amen.
About the author — Thea Leunk
Thea Nyhoff Leunk has been a high school English teacher, a director of Christian education, a pastor of discipleship, and a regional coach for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. She is currently the senior pastor at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thea has also written courses for teens and young adults on world religions, Christian faith traditions, and science and the Bible. She and her husband have three adult children.
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