Prophets (1 Ki 19:16), priests (Ex 28:41), and kings (1 Sam 9:16) were anointed to serve.
“Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron…And they anointed David king over Israel” (2 Sam 5:1, 3). This was David’s third anointing. He was anointed by Samuel at the Lord’s instructions (1 Sam 16:13); then by his own tribe of Judah (2 Sam 2:4); now he was being recognized as king over all Israel. In this, he prefigures the Lord Jesus who also was anointed three times while on earth. His title as Messiah, or Christ, means “anointed one.” In each case, the anointing was performed by a woman who saw in Him what the elders of Israel did not see. In the first case, He was anointed as a revealing Prophet (Lk 7:36-50). “A woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil…and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil” (vv 37-38). Simon said in his heart, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is” (v 39). Jesus immediately proved His prophetic ministry by revealing both what was in the heart of the woman and in Simon’s heart. Jesus’ second anointing (Jn 12:1-12) was as offering Priest. Six days before Passover, “Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, [and] anointed the feet of Jesus” (v 3). She had listened long enough at Jesus’ feet to hear the whole story, including the purpose of His sacrificial death. Thus her anointing was for His burial (v 7). In His third anointing, two days before Passover (Mt 26:6-13), He seemed to be recognized as the soon-reigning King. Not now on His feet, this woman “poured it on His head” (v 7), upon which would be placed first a crown of thorns, but ultimately a diadem of glory. Hail Jesus—Prophet, Priest, and King!