When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
–Mark 16:1
The time to anoint the Son is fast passing.
In a fit time, he was anointed by the waters of the Jordan and then by the descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove, as well as the voice of his Father. He received there the first chrism of his ministry.
He was also anointed by the faith of the woman with a flow of blood and by Jairus who believed he could save his daughter. He was anointed by tears, by a women who washed his feet with her weeping and also by one who poured out her costly perfume upon his head in preparation for his burial.
Upon the Cross, he was anointed by water and by blood, even by the darkening of the Sun, by the resurrection of saints, and by the tearing of the Temple curtain.
Having breathed his last, he was buried. And there in the grave, he was anointed again by the Spirit which raised him from the dead, proclaiming his righteousness and divinity: that he is indeed a Priest forever, our true Prophet, Savior, and King.
Jesus has been anointed by the devotion and obedience of all the faithful since that resurrections and even from the beginning of time, even as he continues to be adored in spirit and in truth.
But at the resurrection, we are told in a figure that a time for anointing will pass. The women arrive and discover an empty tomb, that there work is not needed (unless we except that anointing of faith).
What does this mean but that there will be a time when God’s forbearance shall be over.* There will be a time when we may no longer turn and dedicate our works, our thoughts, our days and hours, our hearts to God. That is, there will be a time when the possibility of turning shall be past.
The time is now. Now is the good time, the time of favor in which we may make peace with God and anoint his body in faith, by tears, by thanksgiving, and by sincere repentance.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry
–Psalm 2:12
and you perish in your rebellion,
when His wrath ignites in an instant.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
While time yet remains, may we reverence Christ’s body.
*Nate Shurden preached on the end of corruption and death, the end of this age or world and the dawning of the new on October 31, 2021.
Same & Other 