“The Anointing Teaches You All Things”

E. J. Waggoner, London

The reason why the disciples mourned and wept and were sad after the crucifixion of Jesus, is given in John 20:9: “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” This evidently does not mean that they were not familiar with the words of that scripture, for “the voices of the prophets'” were “read in their synagogue every Sabbath day;”' and the sacred writings were the chief study of every Jew. Yet notwithstanding this, “they did not know the Scripture.”

When, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27), their hearts burned within them, and their sorrow gave place to joy as He opened to them the Scriptures. But not yet did they truly know the Scriptures. They were still in the condition of the Ethiopian eunuch who, in response to Philip’s question, “Do you understand what you are reading?” said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30, 31). One has no need of a guide in territory that one knows.

A deeper and richer experience was theirs a little later, when Jesus “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). No further need then that any should guide them; for “the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things” (1 John 2:27). “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (v. 20), and it is only thus that anything can be really known. 

This anointing, the divine enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Spirit of truth to guide into all truth, is for every believer, for John wrote these words to the whole church, and Paul prayed that all might receive “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17). “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:3). Do you know the Scriptures? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).

—The Advocate. A Journal of Christian Education 4, 6 (June, 1902), p. 172.

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