Jesus the Christ

The Christ as the anointed one

The act of anointing in the OT

Anointing symbolises God’s calling and being equipped by his Spirit.

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Anointed OT leaders

Priests:

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Kings:

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The OT promise of a future anointed leader

Isaiah 11:1–2 NKJV

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

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Jesus’ own claims to be the Christ

John 4:25–26 NKJV

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

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Jesus recognised as the Christ

Matthew 16:16 NKJV

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

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

Jesus’ reluctance to be known as the Christ is probably due to Jewish misunderstandings of the Messiah’s true role.

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Grounds for affirming Jesus as the Christ

Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem

Matthew 2:4–6 NKJV

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

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Jesus Christ’s spiritual anointing from God

Acts 10:38 NKJV

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

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Jesus Christ’s proclamation of Jubilee

Luke 4:17–21 NKJV

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

See also 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

Matthew 8:16–17 NKJV

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

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Jesus Christ’s prophetic ministry

John 4:29 NKJV

“Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

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Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection

Luke 24:26 NKJV

Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

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Jesus Christ’s fulfilment of prophecy

2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

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God’s establishment of Jesus Christ as king

Luke 1:32–33 NKJV

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

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Messianic titles used of Jesus

Son of David

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Son of God

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The Prophet

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King of the Jews

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High priest

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Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Christ

Jesus’ messiahship was largely rejected by the Jews

Matthew 27:22 NKJV

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

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

Mark 14:61–64 NKJV

But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

John 20:31 NKJV

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

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The apostles’ message was that Jesus is the Christ

Acts 5:42 NKJV

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

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Jesus Christ is the representative head of the church

Baptism is into Christ

Galatians 3:27 NKJV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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Jesus Christ lives within believers

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

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