Jesus the Christ

The Christ as the anointed one

The act of anointing in the OT

1 Sa 16:13 Anointing symbolises God’s calling and being equipped by his Spirit.

See also Ex 40:15; Le 8:12; 1 Sa 10:1; 1 Ki 1:39

Anointed OT leaders

Priests:

Ex 29:7; Le 4:3; Le 4:5; Le 6:20; Le 16:32

Kings:

1 Sa 24:6; 1 Sa 24:10; 1 Sa 26:9; 1 Sa 26:11; 1 Sa 26:16; 1 Sa 26:23; Ps 18:50; Ps 20:6; Ps 132:10

The OT promise of a future anointed leader

Isaiah 11:1–2 ESV

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And 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 the fear of the Lord.

See also Is 42:1; Je 23:5–6

Jesus’ own claims to be the Christ

John 4:25–26 ESV

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

See also Mt 23:10; Mt 26:63–64; Jn 10:24–25

Jesus recognised as the Christ

Matthew 16:16 ESV

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

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 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

Matthew 2:4–6 ESV

and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

See also Mic 5:2; Lk 2:4–7

Jesus Christ’s spiritual anointing from God

Acts 10:38 ESV

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

See also Mt 3:16; Jn 3:34; Ac 4:27

Jesus Christ’s proclamation of Jubilee

Luke 4:17–21 ESV

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

See also Is 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

Matthew 8:16–17 ESV

That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

See also Is 53:4; Mt 11:2–5; Jn 7:31

Jesus Christ’s prophetic ministry

John 4:29 ESV

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

See also Mt 21:45–46; Mt 26:67–68; Jn 4:19; Jn 7:26

Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection

Luke 24:26 ESV

Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

See also Lk 24:46; Ac 3:18; Ac 17:3; Ac 26:23; 1 Pe 1:11

Jesus Christ’s fulfilment of prophecy

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

See also Mt 1:22–23; Is 7:14; Mt 26:21–24; Ps 41:9; Mt 21:4–7; Zec 9:9; Mt 21:8–9; Ps 118:26; Ac 2:22–36

God’s establishment of Jesus Christ as king

Luke 1:32–33 ESV

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to 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.”

See also Ps 2:6–7; Is 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; 2 Ti 2:8

Son of God

Mt 14:33; Mt 27:54; Jn 1:34

The Prophet

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

King of the Jews

Mt 2:2; Mt 27:37; 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

Matthew 27:22 ESV

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

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

Mark 14:61–64 ESV

But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

John 20:31 ESV

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.

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

The apostles’ message was that Jesus is the Christ

Acts 5:42 ESV

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

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

Jesus Christ is the representative head of the church

Baptism is into Christ

Galatians 3:27 ESV

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

See also Ac 2:38; Ac 10:48; Ro 6:3

Jesus Christ lives within believers

Galatians 2:20 ESV

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

See also Ro 6:8; Ro 8:1; Ro 16:7; 1 Co 1:30; Eph 1:13; Col 3:1