Jesus Christ

Wikipedia states that:

“the word “Christ” (or similar spellings) appears in English and most European languages. It is derived from the Greek word Χριστός, Christós (transcribed in Latin as Christus), in the New Testament as a description for Jesus. Christ is now often used as if it were a name, one part of the name "Jesus Christ", but is actually a title (the Messiah). Its usage in "Christ Jesus" emphasizes its nature as a title.” ^1,2

There is a general misbelief in Christian circles that Jesus’ full name is actually Jesus Christ.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  His actual given name from His parents, and from the town where he lived and grew up was Jesus bar Joseph (meaning Jesus son of Joseph) see Luke 3:23.  The meaning of the word “Christ” is attributed to Jesus as being the “anointed” of God, this is why some passages say:- “Jesus which is called Christ.” See Matthew 1:16.

We have a natural tendency to impose our cultural pre-disposition upon the scriptures which says that everyone has a first and a last name, this wasn't so in Jesus’ day and time. 

Children were identified by their father’s first names or their family association, and they bore this identification until they were married themselves or had children of their own.  This signified the necessity to be identified with a family in the town or hamlet they grew up in.  Raising children in this type of culture was a community effort not just the responsibility of Joseph and Mary.  Strong community and family ties helped to shape the understanding that children were part of something greater than just themselves.

Here are various forms which describe Jesus in the Scriptures:

Jesus of Nazarath (John 18:5, Matthew 21:11)

Jesus the son of Joseph  (Luke 3:23)

Jesus the son of Mary  (Mark 6:3)

Many of the locals where Jesus grew up found it hard to believe that Jesus bar Joseph was the Anointed Messiah or Chosen of God to lead the Jewish people into the new era of freedom that had been promised.  After all, he grew up here, we know his parents and his relatives, how could one of our own be the Messiah?  That was the mystery!

The beauty of the Christ or “the anointing” is in the wonder that it embodies.  Jesus is the anointed of God.

What does an anointing look like? 

The book of Psalms talks about the anointing oil pouring forth over the head.

Psalm 133:2-3 (NKJV)

² It is like the precious oil upon the head,

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

³ It is like the dew of Hermon,

Descending upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.

David was approached by Samuel the prophet and was anointed to become the King of Israel.

1 Samuel 16:12-13 (NKJV)

¹² So he sent and brought him in. Now he (David) was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

In Jewish culture the anointing was a big thing, for it represented or characterized the “pouring forth” of God upon the person being anointed.  The anointing is the empowering acknowledgement of God upon a man or woman for what God has called them to.  In some ways it is like the convergence of the natural and the spiritual to reveal and affirm one’s destiny.

When Jesus was baptized by John the baptist in the Jordan river, He came out of the water and the anointing descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. The anointing both proclaimed Jesus’s destiny and affirmed who He was.  Jesus was affirmed that He was God’s anointed Messiah by a voice from heaven.

Luke 3:21-22 (NKJV)

²¹ When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. ²² And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” 

Today we can be partakers of the “Christ” (or anointing) when we recognize that this is the gift we were given because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  Jesus' sacrifice is a price far too vast for us to even fathom the enormity of what was paid for on our behalf.  God knew that only Jesus could be the sacrifice sufficient enough for our redemption, and when we receive the sacrifice of Jesus as our atonement we are brought into right standing with God.

A passage in the Gospel of John speaks further about the pouring forth of the spirit (or anointing).

John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This “pouring forth” is the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon a man or woman who believes.  God still desires to reveal Himself in this way in our day and time, if we give way to the Holy Spirit by believing (trusting in, and relying on) God to stand by His word.

1 John 2:20-21 (NKJV)

²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. ²¹ I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

My prayer for you is that you receive the anointing of Christ which is able to change your heart and mind, and that you believe God enough to take Him at His word.  His love for you is greater than life itself, and He is faithful to bring you through this life into victory by “pouring forth” through you with “rivers of living water”.  Jesus is the embodiment of all the promises of God throughout all time.

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV)

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

This is what it means to be “in Christ”.

God is good all the time—all the time God is good!

Stephen Barnett

What a friend I've found

Words and Music by Martin Smith

What a friend I've found

Closer than a brother

I have felt your touch

More intimate than lovers

Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, friend forever

What a hope I've found

More faithful than a mother

It would break my heart

To ever lose each other

©1996 Curious? Music UK   

The music and lyrics above are copyrighted by the respective artists and are demonstrated here for educational purposes only and not for profit.

¹  Doniger, Wendy (2000). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. p. 212. ISBN 0-87779-044-2.

²  Pannenberg, Wolfhart (1968). Jesus God and Man. pp. 30–31. ISBN 0-664-24468-8.