The Threefold Anointing
- Daniel Glimm
- PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says that a threefold cord is not easily broken in two, which means that there must be a pulling resistance on the other side of the cord. This implies that a pulling due to a resisting alignment of power has the goal of pushing us as saints out of the will of God.
Ecclesiastes 4:12:
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
It is no coincidence that God is a Trinity that includes the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who can also be described as a spiritual family unit expressed in terms of fatherhood, sonship and motherhood.
We as human beings are also created by God as a triune unity consisting of spirit, soul and body.
Regarding the principle of Trinity, I would like to look at the anointing of David as king, whose anointing took place three times:
1. Non-public anointing of David as king of Israel by the prophet Samuel in the house of Jesse (cf. 1 Samuel 16:1.13).
1 Samuel 16:1.13:
1 The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ …
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
1 The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ …
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
2. Public anointing of David as king of Judah by the men of the tribe of Judah (cf. 2 Samuel 2:3-4)
2 Samuel 2:3-4:
3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, …
3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.
4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, …
3. Public anointing of David as king over Israel by the elders of the tribes of Israel in the presence of all the tribes (cf. 2 Samuel 5:1-3)
2 Samuel 5:1-3:
1 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 shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall 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.
1 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 shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall 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.
The Threefold Anointing of David and Faithfulness in Secrecy
The threefold anointing of David reveals an important spiritual principle of God, who first demands faithfulness from us in secret, as David served king Saul in humility over a long period of time until David was publicly proclaimed king by anointing.
Faithfulness opens a new sphere in public, where it is in God’s interest that people who are close to the Lord recognize or confirm us in the anointing He has given us. This requires a walk in deep closeness to the Heavenly Father and a worshipping lifestyle in the form of devotion and trust (Note: Judah => ‘praise, worship’).
In this way, by continuing to live in faithfulness to the Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit initiates greater public recognition among the people of God, which is represented by the tribes of Israel and their elders at the third anointing of David. In all three anointings of David, it was men who were involved.
The Threefold Anointing of Jesus
Now we turn to the threefold anointing of Christ, our Lord, in which three women were involved and which took place in different places.
1. Anointing of Jesus by a sinful woman in the city in the house of the Pharisee Simon
Luke 7:36-38.44-48:
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. …
44 Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’
48 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. …
44 Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’
48 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
The Sinful Woman – A Lover of the Presence of God
The scripture shows us that the sinful woman heard that Jesus was staying in her town as a guest in a religious environment to reach people there too with the love of His Father.
Based on the news she heard, she set out to get closer to the presence of the Son of God, whom she loved sincerely and in purity. She believed that Jesus was the Son of God, which was evident in the fact that she approached Him despite the religious environment in which He was staying as a guest (cf. Luke 7:37).
Since the woman was able to hear where Jesus was and went into His presence, this indicates a heavenly affiliation of which she was aware by faith (cf. John 10:27).
Since the woman was able to hear where Jesus was and went into His presence, this indicates a heavenly affiliation of which she was aware by faith (cf. John 10:27).
John 10:27:
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
She had a plan with which she wanted to surprise Jesus. It was a plan that she developed out of love (Note: agape) in her heart for Jesus. Her planned approach reveals a strategy for us as people of God that can help us to enter deeper into the love of God and His presence.
The Stages of the Approach of the Woman
The sinful woman proceeded in the following steps:
- She heard about Jesus => the perception of His presence
- She approached the presence of Jesus => entering His presence
- She approached Jesus from behind => the willingness to ‘surprise’ Jesus through devotion
- She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears => laying down her own vision for His ways
- She dried Jesus’ feet with her hair => taking up the highways/plans of God in her mind
- She kissed the feet of Jesus with her mouth => willingness to speak of the high ways of God (cf. Isaiah 55:8-9)
- She anointed the feet of Jesus (cf. Luke 7:37-38) => agreement with the high ways of God in order to walk in the God-given anointing.
From these stages of approach, we can see that the woman loved Jesus with a true heart. Jesus said that the expression of obedience reveals love for Him (cf. John 14:23).
John 14:23:
23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. …’
23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. …’
Isn’t it interesting that it was a sinful woman who expressed her love for Jesus by her approach? It was not a person who already had Jesus in her heart by past experiences, yet she was drawn to Jesus by the power of the Father (cf. John 6:44 i.c.w. Romans 5:8).
John 6:44:
44 ‘No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. …’
44 ‘No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. …’
Romans 5:8:
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out on earth at this point and the woman fearlessly entered the religious environment of the Pharisee, it reveals that it was the power of the Father that drew her to Jesus Christ. He helped her to reveal her plan of expressing love and admiration to Christ.
The reason for this is hidden in the fact that it is the Holy Spirit in whom we cry out: ‘Abba, Father!’ - Romans 8:15
Romans 8:15:
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
The Woman Surprised Jesus
The woman did not allow any religious power or a spirit of legalism (Note: to be justified by deeds alone) to stop her from experiencing the presence of the living Word of God! She pierced the religious atmosphere instead with her true devotion in her heart and thus surprised Jesus by approaching Him from behind and serving Him with her worship, which resulted in Jesus beginning to preach to the Pharisee about true devotion and hospitality in relationship (cf. Luke 7:40-47).
During the woman’s true worship, a transfer took place through the presence of Jesus in her life. Her devotion brought the power of God into her life, which relieved her and brought her into the true freedom of the children [Note: sons] of God because her sins were forgiven.
After her encounter with Jesus, the woman became a prophetic seer who prophesied the words of God and His promises to people in love! The reason for this is based on the aspects because she wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, then dried Jesus’ feet with her hair, then kissed His feet with the lips of her mouth, and finally anointed His feet with her oil from the jar.
The eyes represent prophetic vision. The hair represents beauty and strength. The mouth represents speaking the right words. The oil from the glass vessel represents true love that comes from a true heart.
All of the woman’s substances came into contact with the feet of Jesus, which means that everything she put into it came back into her life with the promise of the Son of God (cf. Galatians 6:7).
Galatians 6:7:
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
2. Anointing of Jesus by Mary in the house in Bethany
Mary, Martha’s sister, also proceeded in a similar way, whereby she was in the environment of the manifested resurrection power, as Lazarus was also present in the house in Bethany (cf. John 12:1-3).
John 12:1-3:
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Mary’s devotion to Jesus brought to the surface the true heart motive of Judas, whose name means ‘praise, worship’, which involved the worship of money (Note: Mammon; cf. John 12:4-8).
Judas had a corrupt heart because he was not primarily concerned with the worship of God.
His heart was set on worldly things, and he had a worldly conception.
His heart was set on worldly things, and he had a worldly conception.
We can see from the Bible passage in John 12:1-11 how much love and trust Jesus gave to His disciple Judas, who was responsible for the financial resources of Jesus’ ministry, even though He knew that Judas’ heart was set on money. Jesus gave Judas the chance to break with his love of money, but due to his pride he never did (cf. John 12:6).
John 12:6:
6 He [Note: Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
6 He [Note: Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
3. Anointing of Jesus by a woman in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper
Matthew 26:6-10.12-13:
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked.
9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. …
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked.
9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. …
12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’
The house of Simon the leper can be understood in a spiritual context as a house of negative speech, since leprosy is associated with it (cf. Numbers 12:1.9-10).
Numbers 12:1.9-10:
1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. …
9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.
10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous – it became as white as snow. Aaron turned towards her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, …
1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. …
9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.
10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous – it became as white as snow. Aaron turned towards her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, …
Leprosy and its Spiritual Root
Speaking in a prophetic context, leprosy has a spiritual root, which is expressed in arrogance or an attitude of pride or the love of money and worldly honour [Note: Naaman, Gehazi; cf. 2 Kings 5].
Prophets have a high spiritual responsibility in communicating the words of God. They are, in a certain sense, a communication tool of God, if He wishes them to speak. That is why it is so important that their communication is pure.
It is therefore no coincidence that Miriam should be treated like a person spit in the face by his father. The consequence of Miriam’s behaviour was that she had to stay outside the camp for seven days (cf. Numbers 12:14).
Numbers 12:14:
14 The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spat in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’
14 The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spat in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’
This clearly shows us that God’s standard of pure or holy communication rooted in God’s character corresponds to the sound of many waters (cf. Ezekiel 1:24a i.c.w. Revelation 1:15b).
Ezekiel 1:24a:
24 When the creatures [Note: Cherubim] moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, …
24 When the creatures [Note: Cherubim] moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, …
Revelation 1:15b:
…, 15b and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
…, 15b and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
However, if we move out of this divine standard, it is inevitable that we will be separated from the mouth of the Lord through His ‘spitting’. It should serve to bring us to repentance through God-ordained sorrow (cf. Revelation 3:16 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 7:10a).
Revelation 3:16:
16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
2 Corinthians 7:10a:
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, …
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, …
It is the pure communication of God, which includes the right view, the right hearing [Note: house of Simon => ‘hearing’] and the right understanding (cf. Mark 7:33-35; Mark 8:23-25).
Mark 7:33-35:
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat and touched the man’s tongue.
34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’).
35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed and he began to speak plainly.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat and touched the man’s tongue.
34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’).
35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed and he began to speak plainly.
Mark 8:23-25:
23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spat on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’
24 He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spat on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’
24 He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
As we walk in this, we recognize His prophetic revelations, hearing the words of God breathed into us to pass them on uncorrupted at the right time of God in a wise dealing.
The Difference between the Anointing of David and the Anointing of Jesus
David and Jesus Christ were anointed three times, whereby David was confirmed as king by anointing through men and Jesus was anointed by women. The three anointings of Jesus do not include an anointing to confirm Him as king but serve as an indication of the ecclesia that Christ Jesus has devotedly made available to reveal His power of forgiveness, His resurrection power and His eternal and final triumph over the adversary.
This releases the fragrance of goodness among those who are to be saved and an aroma of death to those who oppose Christ as the truth (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16a).
2 Corinthians 2:14-16a:
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16a To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. …
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16a To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. …
The true devotion of the ecclesia in the Holy Spirit represented by anointing oil toward Jesus Christ causes people who have a wrong heart motive such as a religious mindset, legalism, self-righteousness or greed for money and fame to be convicted of true worship in the presence. This should give them the opportunity to repent from their wrong ways.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
