The First Anointing in the Bible: Jacob’s Vision at Bethel 

Genesis 28:10-19: Jacob’s Vision at Bethel
In the book of Genesis, we encounter the very first anointing recorded in the Bible, which takes place during an important moment in the life of Jacob. Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, embarks on a journey towards Haran. During this journey, he rests for the night at a certain place, using a stone as his pillow. Here, he experiences a profound vision—a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending upon it. Above it stood the Lord, who reaffirmed the covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac, that Jacob would have numerous descendants and the land on which he lay.

Upon awakening, Jacob exclaims, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He names the place Bethel, meaning “House of God.” In an act of devotion, Jacob takes the stone he had used as a pillow, sets it up as a pillar, and anoints it with oil.

Symbolism and Significance of the Anointing
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, anointing with oil was a common practice for consecrating objects and people for sacred purposes. The oil symbolised the presence and blessing of God. By anointing the stone, Jacob was acknowledging the divine encounter and setting apart that place as holy.

This moment at Bethel is not only significant for Jacob but also holds a prophetic foreshadowing of the anointing of Jesus. The vision Jacob had of the ladder with angels ascending and descending, coupled with the anointing of the stone, all points to Jesus.

The Ladder
In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Jacob’s vision when He speaks to Nathanael in John 1:51

“Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 

This statement by Jesus directly links to Jacob’s vision at Bethel. Jesus identifies Himself as the true ladder, the bridge between heaven and earth. He is the connection through which heaven meets human. As it is written in John 14:6

 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

The Rock of our Salvation
Additionally, the stone that Jacob anointed with oil is a representation of Christ, the “Rock” of our salvation. Christ is often referred to as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), the foundation upon which the church is built. The anointing of the stone at Bethel prefigures the anointing of Jesus, who is the cornerstone of our faith. Just as Jacob rested on the stone we should be resting on Christ. He is in control. Despite the turmoil around us, we can find peace by focusing on Jesus and resting on our solid Rock.

The Anointing of Christ
In Luke 4:17-19, Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

This passage from Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-2) speaks of the anointing of the Messiah, the one who would bring salvation and deliverance. Jesus’ reading of this prophecy and His declaration, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” directly links to His role as the anointed Saviour.

The anointing of the pillar at Bethel and the anointing of Jesus are deeply connected. The oil poured on the stone at Bethel is a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We read this in Acts 10:37-38

“that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him”

 Just as Jacob anointed the stone, signifying it as a sacred place where God revealed Himself, Jesus, the Anointed One, is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity.