2206 Jesus, the Christ

“Christ” means “Messiah” or “anointed one”. As the Christ, Jesus is the one who fulfils all OT expectations. Paul’s phrase “in Christ” indicates the intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and his people.

The Christ as the anointed one

The act of anointing in the OT 1Sa 16:13 Anointing symbolises God’s calling and being equipped by his Spirit. See also Ex 40:15; Lev 8:12; 1Sa 10:1; 1Ki 1:39

Anointed OT leaders Priests: Ex 29:7; Lev 4:3,5; Lev 6:20; Lev 16:32 Kings: 1Sa 24:6,10; 1Sa 26:9,11,16,23; Ps 18:50; Ps 20:6; Ps 132:10

The OT promise of a future anointed leader Isa 11:1-2 See also Isa 42:1; Jer 23:5-6

Jesus’own claims to be the Christ

Jn 4:25-26 See also Mt 23:10; Mt 26:63-64 pp Mk 14:61-62; Jn 10:24-25

Jesus recognised as the Christ

Mt 16:16 pp Mk 8:29 pp Lk 9:20 See also Lk 2:26-32; Lk 4:41; Jn 1:41-42; Jn 11:27

Jesus’demand that his identity as the Christ should not be publicised

Mt 16:20 pp Mk 8:30 pp Lk 9:21 Jesus’reluctance to be known as the Christ is probably due to Jewish misunderstandings of the Messiah’s true role. See also Mt 12:16; Lk 4:41

Grounds for affirming Jesus as the Christ

Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem Mt 2:4-6 See also Mic 5:2; Lk 2:4-7

Jesus Christ’s spiritual anointing from God Ac 10:38 See also Mt 3:16 pp Mk 1:10 pp Lk 3:22; Jn 3:34; Ac 4:27

Jesus Christ’s proclamation of Jubilee Lk 4:17-21 See also Isa 61:1-2 Isaiah’s words are borrowed from the language of the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus chapter 25), which was to be a time when true freedom was restored.

Jesus Christ’s healing ministry Mt 8:16-17 See also Isa 53:4; Mt 11:2-5 pp Lk 7:18-23; Jn 7:31

Jesus Christ’s prophetic ministry Jn 4:29 See also Mt 21:45-46; Mt 26:67-68; Jn 4:19; Jn 7:26

Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection Lk 24:26 See also Lk 24:46; Ac 3:18; Ac 17:3; Ac 26:23; 1Pe 1:11

Jesus Christ’s fulfilment of prophecy 2Co 1:20 See also Mt 1:22-23; Isa 7:14; Mt 26:21-24 pp Mk 14:18-21; Ps 41:9; Mt 21:4-7 pp Jn 12:14-15; Zec 9:9; Mt 21:8-9 pp Mk 11:9-10 pp Lk 19:37-38 pp Jn 12:12-13; Ps 118:26; Ac 2:22-36

God’s establishment of Jesus Christ as king Lk 1:32-33 See also Ps 2:6-7; Isa 9:6; Lk 22:29

Messianic titles used of Jesus

Son of David Mt 1:1; Mt 15:22; Mt 21:9; Mt 20:30-31 pp Mk 10:47-48 pp Lk 18:38-39; 2Ti 2:8

Son of God Mt 14:33; Mt 27:54 pp Mk 15:39; Jn 1:34

The Prophet Mt 21:11; Jn 6:14; Jn 7:40

King of the Jews Mt 2:2; Mt 27:37 pp Mk 15:26 pp Lk 23:38 pp Jn 19:19; Mk 15:32; Jn 12:13

High priest Heb 2:17; Heb 4:14-15; Heb 5:5; Heb 6:20; Heb 7:26; Heb 8:1

Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Christ

Jesus’messiahship was largely rejected by the Jews Mt 27:22 See also Jn 1:11; Jn 8:13; Jn 11:37; Ac 7:52-53; Ac 17:3-5

Jesus was accused of blasphemy because of his claims to be the Christ Mk 14:61-64 pp Mt 26:63-66

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

Jn 20:31 See also Jn 11:27; 1Jn 5:1

The apostles’message was that Jesus is the Christ

Ac 5:42 See also Ac 2:36; Ac 9:22; Ac 10:38; Ac 18:5,28

Jesus Christ is the representative head of the church

Baptism is into Christ Gal 3:27 See also Ac 2:38; Ac 10:48; Ro 6:3

Jesus Christ lives within believers Gal 2:20 See also Ro 6:8; Ro 8:1; Ro 16:7; 1Co 1:30; Eph 1:13; Col 3:1

See also