What does Christ mean? To the surprise of some, Christ is not Jesus last name (surname). Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning anointed one or chosen one. This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or Messiah. Jesus is the Lords human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:31). Christ is His title, signifying Jesus was sent from God to be a King and Deliverer (see Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 32:1). Jesus Christ means Jesus the Messiah or Jesus the Anointed One. In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for Gods service (e.g., 1 Samuel 10:1). Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such fashion. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate Gods choosing (e.g., 1 Samuel 24:6). Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to ones consecration by God, even if literal oil is not used (Hebrews 1:9). There are hundreds of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that refer to a coming Messiah who would deliver His people (e.g., Isaiah 61:1; Daniel 9:26). Ancient Israel thought their Messiah would come with military might to deliver them from decades of captivity to earthly kings and pagan nations. But the New Testament reveals a much better deliverance provided by Jesus the Messiah-a deliverance from the power and penalty of sin (Luke 4:18; Romans 6:23). The Bible says Jesus was anointed with oil on two separate occasions by two different women (Matthew 26:6-7; Luke 7:37-38), but the most significant anointing came by way of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). Jesus title of Christ means He is Gods Anointed One, the One who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, the Chosen Savior who came to rescue sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and the King of kings who is coming back again to set up His Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:9).
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:31:06 +0000
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