What does it mean that Jesus is the Christ? The Christ is the anointed one. This means that God is giving Jesus godlike status in relation to other humans. He does this by anointing Jesus with an utter joy his companions do not have in quite that same way. It is called an anointing of joy. This is not about his status in relation to his humanity. When we think of one human in relation to other humans, we might recognise that a human can be above others when God gives them something that sets then above their companions. This we might say makes them a god to the others. It does not make them any less human. The eminence given by God, the Father, to Jesus, is not a replacement of humanity nor in any way a reduction of his humanity or undermining of it. It is a veneer on top of it; a veneer of all-surpassing joy. Such a God-given eminence does not make Jesus more a god than a human. It merely makes him more of a god than his companions. This is relative, not absolute, because it leaves it open to us to find ourselves given similar eminence too: if we overcome. In Revelation Jesus promises those who overcome that he will give them to sit with him on his throne just as he sits with the Father on His throne. All can be made like gods. Jesus is still eminent above all of us: although not above the Father who confers this on him. The Father who confers it is not God because it was given Him but is God by His own nature. That is why Jesus calls the Father the one true God. (Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm 82:6, Matthew 11:27, John 10:34-36, John 17:3, 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Hebrews 1:8-9, Hebrews 2:9, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 22:1)
The Son, who was originally God by nature as the Word, gave up this intrinsic divine status and instead received a God-given anointing as the Christ. In contrast, the Father remains God by nature.
So now we too can receive an anointing like the Christ did, from the Father. Jesus made it possible by dying on the cross for us. The Father confirmed it by raising him from the dead with promise of similar resurrection for those who are true disciples. Jesus is anointed above his companions with the greatest joy out of all, but his companions can partake in this by having an anointing from God the Father too.
We can have goodness and mercy following us all the days of our lives for the sake of Jesus’ name, if we believe. God anoints our heads with oil, the oil of joy.
