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 NRSV

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on 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 NRSV

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

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

Jesus recognised as the Christ

Matthew 16:16 NRSV

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, 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 NRSV

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

See also Mic 5:2; Lk 2:4–7

Jesus Christ’s spiritual anointing from God

Acts 10:38 NRSV

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how 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 NRSV

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 bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then 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 NRSV

That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

See also Is 53:4; Mt 11:2–5; Jn 7:31

Jesus Christ’s prophetic ministry

John 4:29 NRSV

“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”

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 NRSV

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then 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 NRSV

For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God.

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 NRSV

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 ancestor David. 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 NRSV

Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them 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 NRSV

But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’ ” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

That Jesus is the Christ is a central Christian belief

John 20:31 NRSV

But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through 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 NRSV

And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

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 NRSV

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

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

Jesus Christ lives within believers

Galatians 2:20 NRSV

and it is no longer I who live, but it is 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