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

1 Samuel 16:13 Anointing symbolises God's calling and being equipped by his Spirit. See also Exodus 40:15; Leviticus 8:12; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 1:39

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Anointed OT leaders

Priests: Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 4:3, Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 6:20, Leviticus 16:32; 1 Samuel 24:6, 1 Samuel 24:10, 1 Samuel 26:9, 1 Samuel 26:11, 1 Samuel 26:16, 1 Samuel 26:23; Psalm 18:50, Psalm 20:6, Psalm 132:10

The OT promise of a future anointed leader

Isaiah 11:1–2 See also Isaiah 42:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6

Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Jesus' own claims to be the Christ

John 4:25–26 See also Matthew 23:10, Matthew 26:63–64 parallel Mark 14:61–62; John 10:24–25

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”

Jesus recognised as the Christ

Matthew 16:16 parallels Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20 See also Luke 2:26–32, Luke 4:41; John 1:41–42, John 11:27

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

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

Matthew 16:20 parallels Mark 8:30, Luke 9:21 Jesus' reluctance to be known as the Christ is probably due to Jewish misunderstandings of the Messiah's true role. See also Matthew 12:16; Luke 4:41

Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Grounds for affirming Jesus as the Christ

Jesus Christ's birth in Bethlehem

Matthew 2:4–6 See also Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4–7

And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Jesus Christ's spiritual anointing from God

Acts 10:38 See also Matthew 3:16 parallels Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22; John 3:34; Acts 4:27

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Jesus Christ's proclamation of Jubilee

Luke 4:17–21 See also Isaiah 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.

the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus Christ's healing ministry

Matthew 8:16–17 See also Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 11:2–5 parallel Luke 7:18–23; John 7:31

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”

Jesus Christ's prophetic ministry

John 4:29 See also Matthew 21:45–46, Matthew 26:67–68; John 4:19, John 7:26

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Jesus Christ's suffering, death and resurrection

Luke 24:26 See also Luke 24:46; Acts 3:18, Acts 17:3, Acts 26:23; 1 Peter 1:11

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

Jesus Christ's fulfilment of prophecy

2 Corinthians 1:20 See also Matthew 1:22–23; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 26:21–24 parallel Mark 14:18–21; Psalm 41:9; Matthew 21:4–7 parallel John 12:14–15; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:8–9 parallels Mark 11:9–10, Luke 19:37–38, John 12:12–13; Psalm 118:26; Acts 2:22–36

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

God's establishment of Jesus Christ as king

Luke 1:32–33 See also Psalm 2:6–7; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 22:29

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Messianic titles used of Jesus

Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Christ

Jesus' messiahship was largely rejected by the Jews

Matthew 27:22 See also John 1:11, John 8:13, John 11:37; Acts 7:52–53, Acts 17:3–5

“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

Jesus was accused of blasphemy because of his claims to be the Christ

Mark 14:61–64 parallel Matthew 26:63–66

But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

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

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

The apostles' message was that Jesus is the Christ

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

Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus Christ is the representative head of the church

Baptism is into Christ

Galatians 3:27 See also Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48; Romans 6:3

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Jesus Christ lives within believers

Galatians 2:20 See also Romans 6:8, Romans 8:1, Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 3:1

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.