In my last article, I shared what I learned on my recent trip to Israel about the acacia tree. In this article, I want to share with you another revelation I had on that same trip. In Nazareth, the place where Jesus grew up, there is a living history tour of the replica of Nazareth Village. I learned something there that hit me with so much revelatory emotion, that it caused me to cry. It had the same impact on others in our group too. You would not think learning about olive oil would make us cry, but it did. Let me share why… In the last few years there has been a sudden surge of essential oil use, and I’ve noticed a lot of people (myself included), using essential oils. There’s a lot of buzz about the health benefits of oil. Diffusing, aromatherapy, and applying oil to the body or even ingesting it is recommended for a variety of positive health benefits (emotional and physical). But what is the significance of oil in the Bible? What does it represent? Why does God’s word tell us to anoint with oil? In our current culture, we tend to view oil as either something for cooking, something to put in our cars, or something to buy for health benefits. Oil is mentioned in multiple places in the Bible, and some might say that oil has lost significance in our world; or has it? Oil was highly significant to the Hebrew culture.
OIL WAS USED FOR: 1. Consecration (to be set apart) of priests, kings, and the Temple implements 2. Fuel for the lamps of the Temple (the menorah) 3. Hospitality and honor 4. Healing injury/disease, beautifying skin and strengthening muscles 5. Food (cooking, as we do today) 6. Soap 7. Fuel for household lamps Much of the uses for oil listed above are still in use today in our culture. Oil is used for fuel, we still use it for healing, an ingredient in soap, and food. However, our culture has seemed to have lost the idea of using it for hospitality and to honor people. In ancient times, oil would be poured onto the head of a guest to honor and extend hospitality. It says in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Jesus mentioned to the Pharisee who had invited him over for dinner in Luke 7:46, “You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but this woman has poured expensive perfume on my feet.” In Biblical times, if you didn’t anoint someone with oil it was a mark of disrespect and considered terrible hospitality. Culturally, anointing with oil was like providing refreshment for an honored guest. With this thought in mind, it makes sense that oil is of great significance in God’s Word and is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Kings were anointed with oil to represent God’s choice to rule as a chosen vessel for Him to work through. If a king was anointed, it was symbolically the same as being crowned. Also, the priests in the Old Testament Levitical priesthood were anointed with oil. The oil was to symbolize being set apart (sanctified or made holy) for the purposes of God. The implements of the Temple were also consecrated with oil.
HOW DOES OLIVE OIL SYMBOLIZE HOLY SPIRIT?
First, let’s talk about olive oil. It is the most common oil processed, sold, and used in Israel. There are some other oils mentioned in the Bible, but olive oil is the primary source. Olive trees are plentiful in Israel, and most villages have their own olive press. The olive press was very large, constructed of heavy wood and large weights hewn out of stone. The olives were gathered in the village orchard and then taken for crushing. The olives were usually crushed with a grinding stone pulled by a donkey. After the olives were crushed, the mash was scooped into baskets, and those baskets were strapped onto the olive press. The stone weights were stacked, causing the baskets of olive mash to be “pressed.” The pressure would extract the oil from the olive mash. The first press would produce the cleanest, best oil. This oil was used in the Temple for sanctification, consecration, hospitality, honor, and healing. The second press of oil required more weight to be added for pressing the baskets. This oil was for the village to use for cooking. The third press, with even more weight and greater pressure on the olives, produced oil that was used to light the homes in the village. The third press was the lowest grade of oil and squeezed out the last drops that the olive had left to give. An olive press was found in excavations at the village of Nazareth (where Jesus grew up). Jesus would have been very familiar with the olive harvest and the process of pressing olives three times. Many villages produced olive oil as it was an export of Israel to other countries. We read in Hosea 12:1, “Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.” The Old Testament is full of references about the use and importance of oil. As mentioned above, God told Moses to use olive oil to consecrate the Temple, and as fuel for the Temple lamp (or menorah). Exodus 27:20 says, “You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.” In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.”
Jesus was most likely celebrating Hanukkah when He said that and the Temple lamp stand (or menorah) would have been burning with the best olive oil; the first press oil! This was the oil used for sanctification of the Temple and lighting the temple—a beautiful foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. The oil indicated gladness and joy. It says in Isaiah 61:3 that He gives us, “the oil of joy instead of mourning.” But what is the oil of joy? That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. The Spirit is the oil of joy we are anointed with. David wrote in Psalm 45:7, referring to Jesus, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:20, “You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” We also know the Spirit of God teaches us in 1 John 2:27, “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” James 5:14 gives instruction when someone is sick to “Call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” David wrote in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Oil was part of David’s provision and a picture of profound gladness. Hebrews 1:9 says, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
HOW DOES THIS ALL CONNECT?
Here is what I learned in Israel that brought me to tears. At the end of Jesus ministry time on Earth, He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The word gethsemane is derived from two Hebrew words: gat, which means “a place for pressing oil (or wine)” and “shemanim,” which means “oils.” The significance of this is huge. Jesus, also called Christ (which in Greek means “Anointed”) is our High Priest, the Light of the world, who was consecrated and set apart by God. He prayed in the olive garden. We read the account of this anguished prayer in John 26: 36-46. Jesus was pressed three times in prayer, just as the olives are pressed three times. He poured out all he had in intercession for us. His anguish caused Him to sweat great drops of blood. And yet, for the JOY set before Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). As Jesus was crushed for our sin and iniquity, his blood was poured out on the cross. And in the crushing, the oil of joy was released. His anointing with “the oil of exulting joy” took place not at His baptism when He began His ministry for us, but at His triumphant completion of His work, at His ascension when He obtained the Holy Spirit without measure. John 3:34 says, “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” Jesus has now imparted His Spirit to us. The connection between the oil press in Nazareth, and the oil press in Gethsemane, is what brought tears to my eyes. I was overcome with the revelation of what Jesus endured for us so the oil of joy (the Holy Spirit) could be released. The oil is symbolic of the imparting and joy of the Holy Spirit. The anointing that we as believers receive from God is the Holy Spirit. Jesus was pressed and crushed for our iniquities so that the oil of gladness and joy, the Holy Spirit, could be sent to us. The Holy Spirit brings fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). 1 Corinthians 1:20-22 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so, through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit anoints us with joy. As we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we impart the Joy of the Lord. We impart healing and honor. We dedicate the person we are anointing to receive the attention of the Holy Spirit in their circumstances. Anointing with oil is an external act of the body that accompanies, and gives expression to, the internal desire and disposition of faith to dedicate someone to God in a special way. We are setting them apart for God’s special attention and care. We are applying the Holy Spirit to them in a tangible way as represented by the oil. James 5:14-15 gives a powerful exhortation for how healing that application of oil can be, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” Invest in “first press” oil, and anoint your family, friends, and those the Spirit leads you to anoint. You’ll be a blessing and you will be releasing the JOY of the Holy Spirit upon them. Let the army of God arise and bring the oil of JOY!
Sources: Holy Bible, NIV Fausset’s Bible Dictionary Wikipedia.org Smith’s Bible Dictionary Got questions.org Desiring god.org Nazareth village.com