The Oil of Joy (part3)

I always marvel at God's timing. I never know why He decides to have me study a subject until something smacks me upside the head. The timing of my revelation seems to coincide with something big...either something personal in my own life or something on a much larger scale. In this case, it pointed to the much larger scale of Easter. How glorious!

In the Bible, when "oil" is mentioned, it is often paired with two other things: grain and wine. Deuteronomy 11:14 says, "then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and oil." Joel 2:24 recites something similar, along with many other passages. So, what is the significance with grouping these three things together?

Perhaps Psalm 23:5 will help us out: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." This picture portrays one of communion. It is an act of sharing and fellowship and relationship. It points to the finished work of Christ so that we might be One with Him.

At communion, there are two elements: broken bread (grain) and grape juice (hee) (wine.) Jesus Christ is our bread...he offered his broken body so that we might have life. Jesus's blood is our wine. He was crushed, just like grapes are crushed to make wine.

The oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit. At conversion and acceptance of Christ as Savior, we are automatically anointed by the Spirit. We are sealed. Marked. Forever His.

Here is where things get fascinating! In Bible times, they used an extraction process of olive oil that required three separate pressings. The results of the first press was used for fuel to light the Holy Place. Jesus was pressed at Gethsemane so that we might see things in a spiritual light. The Hebrew word for Gethsemane is "gat shemanim" which means "olive press." This may seem like a no-brainer, since it was an olive grove, but think about how significant it is that this was the very location of Christ crying out to his Father for the cup (of suffering) to be removed, and yet His Father pressed him anyway.

The second pressing of olives was used for medicinal purposes. At Christ's second "pressing," he was scourged and beaten and it left deep wounds and marks that looked like stripes. (I can hardly type that without crying...oh His love for us.) Isaiah 53:5 says, "...by His stripes we are healed." Oh, glory, don't you just love that?!

The results of the third pressing was used for making soap. Christ's third "pressing" occurred on the cross. Revelation 1:5 says, "Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives." What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

It is ironic and it is tragic. The suffering of Christ and His finished work on the cross are what give us the oil of gladness. God, we praise you because in your book, "fair" is not in your vocabulary...but grace is.

"He makes...wine that gladdens the heart of men, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart." Psalm 104:15

Happy Easter, everyone. May our hearts rejoice as we praise God, who is our double portion of joy! We love you, El Simchah Giyl!!!