Jesus is the Messiah — Are you sure it isn’t Mr. Christ?

02 Saturday Jun 2018

Tags

Heaven, Jesus, Jews, John 10, John 4, Matthew 23, Matthew 26, Messiah, Teachings

Image result for jesus the messiah We hear Jesus Christ all the time. Sometimes it is even said in a profane way. So, is it the last name of Jesus?

“Christ” means “Messiah” or “anointed one”. As the Messiah, Jesus is the one who fulfils all old testament expectations.

Is it Mr. Christ? Nope. Christ is a title, not a name.

In Hebrew, MESSIAH מָשִׁיַח, (mashiyach) means “anointed” or “an anointed one”. Rendered into Greek as Χριστός (the Christos), or a verb χρίω (chriō, “to anoint”). In this sense, it is essentially the same to say that Jesus is “Messiah,” or the “the Messiah.” In Bible translations, sometimes it is Jesus the Christ (used as a title) and sometimes it is Jesus Christ, appearing to be a name. In all cases, it is a title and not a name. It is not Mr. Christ.

I try to be consistent in using the title “the Messiah”. I don’t think most people really understand “Jesus Christ”.

Jesus is the anointed King. Jesus is the anointed Priest. Jesus is the anointed Prophet. Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit. In all cases, Jesus is the “Anointed One” by God.

Jesus’ own claims to be the Messiah. In the context of Jesus “Christ” being a title, it is clear that Jesus sees himself as the Messiah.

John 4:25–26 (NASB) — The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Matthew 23:10 (NASB) — “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, the Messiah.”

Matthew 26:63–64 (NASB) — But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

John 10:24–25 (NASB) — The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.”