What is the difference between the anointing of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament?

The first mention of “anointing” in Scripture is when Jacob saw a ladder in a dream, which was set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven, and the Lord standing above it, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it, and he said, “‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!’ and then he took the stone that he had put at his head, and he poured oil on top of it.” (Gen. 28:12– 18). The anointing was used to proclaim the sanctification of the place and its consecration, for it to become “Bethel” or the “House of God.” Also, the Mosaic law instructed the anointing of kings, priests, places (the temple), and the vessels that were consecrated for the service of the Lord’s house.

Chrismation aims to make the person or object consecrated to God only. All this, throughout the generations, is a symbol pointing to the coming of the Messiah whom the Father has anointed with the oil of gladness (Ps. 45:7) to preach good tidings to the poor (Isa. 61:1). He is the center of the Father’s gladness and joy because while He is the Logos of God and the Only Begotten Son, He was incarnate to reconcile humanity with the Father. Thus, He is capable of transmitting this heavenly joy to the poor who were deprived of the joy of the exalted life. Christ was anointed with the oil of gladness so that we would be anointed in Him because we are members of His body, and therefore are anointed in Him.

1414 St. Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Spirit 1.8.93 (NPNF II/10:105–106).

1415 St. Ambrose of Milan, The Prayer of Job and David 4.9.35 (FOTC 65:418–419).

St. Jacob of Sarug says, “All righteous people portrayed the chrismation and decorated it with their proclamations. Each one of them described its beauty during his time. Moses came, and he placed the table in the tabernacle of that time and sanctified it with the blood of sacrifices and with oil. By oil, Samuel gave the kingdom to the children of his people, and also Elisha ministered with the mystery of the kings’ anointing. As for Christ , He is the most exalted among all the Christian ranks and through Him, all the prophetic mysteries were served … The Shepherd designed the anointing.”¹⁴¹⁶