The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Luke 4:18

Saul’s “dark night of the soul” endured, until along came an Anointed One, summoned by God, who offered salvation to this afflicted and vengeful soul. For when Saul was anointed for the first time, everything changed, and he was born again as Paul, a Messiah/Christ. He had been taught by the Holy Spirit and was a new man!

The ascendant world power would not permit an anointed Hebrew king, and for many years the high priest of the temple was chosen directly by Persia. Though no longer enslaved, the Jews remained on a tether. They dared not call for a return to traditional Mosaic anointing. The Anointed One was long-dead, a blurred memory fast becoming a legend, soon

Following the directions in Exodus, the sacred ointment could be compounded—no doubt—it had to be compounded—for without the true unguent, it would have been impossible for Jesus to assume the mantle of Messiahhood.

The sacred intoxication of Saul was apparent to all who knew him; for when anointed king, he sees visions, and it becomes clear to all around that he is having an ecstatic experience, for the people ask: “is Saul now among the prophets?” Hebrew prophets of old were also anointed with the unguent and used a variety of other psychedelic plant and

This was the authentic and original manner of laying on hands. Not only did it serve to apply the sacred oil, but it involved the soothing, endorphin-producing effects of massage. Along with delivering the pharmacologically-active components of the herbal medicine, it would send a tactile message of nonsexual love and kindness. Then, each

All the true Messiahs were dead. Of equal importance, the new keepers of the faith would have been forbidden by Persia to anoint anyone, as this ceremony could also signify a claim to kingship. Centuries later, this very fact would prove to be the downfall of Jesus.

Before the sacred salve lost every last drop of its pharmacological function, it was also used as a medicine for more prosaic purposes, such as healing skin ulcers. Disciples would also use it cast out “devils”, which might refer to the treatment of people suffering from psychiatric or psychosomatic disease.

Scholars and churchmen alike have long wondered why these mighty manifestations of the Spirit vanished and left nothing obvious in their wake.