Christ

What comes to mind when we hear the word “Christ”?

Jesus; The Anointed One; The Messiah; Savior; Redeemer; Wonderful Counselor; Prince of Peace; Lamb of God; Lord

Messiah - anointed one

χριστός (christos). n. masc. Christ. This noun refers to a person divinely anointed but more primarily to the Messiah. In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word מַשִׁיַח (māšîaḥ, “anointed one”) is translated by the Greek term christos, which also refers to an anointed individual. The NT writings exclusively apply the term to Jesus of Nazareth. The term christos can be used as relating to refer to Jesus’ role as the Messiah.

For example, the chief priests and the scribes mockingly address Jesus while he is hanging on the cross as “the Messiah (ho christos), the Kings of Israel”

Mark 15:32 “Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.”

Similarly, in Acts 2:36 Peter declares that God has vindicated the crucified Jesus as both Lord and “Messiah”

Acts 2:36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.””

(christos; compare Mark 12:35; Luke 2:11; 1 John 2:22; Rev 12:10).

The early Christians regarded Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as God’s vindication of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel (e.g., Acts 2:36).

As a result, Christians began to use christos as a proper name for Jesus, whether in an absolute sense (e.g., Rom 5:6; Gal 2:20; Heb 5:5) or, more commonly, together with the name “Jesus” (e.g., Matt 1:1; Acts 3:6; Rom 1:1; Phil 3:3; Heb 3:1).

Lexham Theological Wordbook (χριστός)

The title for Jesus, Christ, is found in the New Testament 532 times.

Matthew - 17

Mark - 8

Luke - 12

John - 19

Together (56 times)

In the gospel according to Matthew, Matthew begins his gospel (not actually his, but his account of the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ) with the genealogy Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:1 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Mark also begins his account of Jesus with...

Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Luke does not introduce the title of Jesus until in chapter two verse eleven...

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

John’s mention of the Christ occurs in verse 17 of the first chapter...

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The Origin of Verse Divisions

Modern verse division for the New Testament was the work of Robert Stephanus (Stephens), a French printer. He divided the Greek text into verses for his Greek New Testament published in 1551.

The first entire Bible, in which these chapter and verse divisions were used, was Stephen’s edition of the Latin Vulgate (1555).

The first English Bible to have both chapter and verse divisions was the Geneva Bible (1560).

Christ is woven throughout the entire Bible, in the Old Testament as the scarlet cord from Genesis to Malachi.

But…where do we find Christ in the Old Testament?

In Genesis, He is the “Seed of the Woman”.

In Exodus, He is the “Passover Lamb”.

In Leviticus, He is the “High Priest”.

In Numbers, He is “the Cloud and the Fire”.

In Deuteronomy, He is the “Prophet Like Moses”.

In Joshua, He is the “Captain of Our Salvation”.

In Judges, He is the “Judge and Lawgiver”.

In Ruth, He is the “Kinsman Redeemer”.

In 1 & 2 Samuel, He is the “Prophet of the Lord”.

In 1 & 2 Kings, He is the “Reigning King”.

In 1 & 2 Chronicles, He is the “Glorious Temple”.

In Ezra, He is the “Faithful Scribe”.

In Nehemiah, He is the “Rebuilder of the Walls”.

In Esther, He is “Mordecai”.

In Job, He is the “Dayspring From on High”.

In Psalms, He is the “Lord Who is Our Shepherd”.

In Proverbs & Ecclesiastes, He is the “Wisdom of God”.

In Songs of Solomon, He is the “Lover and Bridegroom”.

In Isaiah, He is the “Suffering Servant”.

In Jeremiah & Lamentations, He is the “Weeping Prophet”.

In Ezekiel, He is the “Son of Man”.

In Daniel, He is the “Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven”.

In Hosea, He is the “Bridegroom”.

In Joel, He is the “Baptizer with the Holy Spirit”.

In Amos, He is the “Burden Bearer”.

In Obadiah, He is the “Mighty Savior”.

In Jonah, He is the “Forgiving God”.

In Micah, He is the “Messenger with Beautiful Feet”.

In Nahum, He is the “Avenger of God’s Elect”.

In Habakkuk, He is the “Great Evangelist, Crying for Revival”.

In Zephaniah, He is the “Restorer of the Remnant”.

In Haggai, He is the “Cleansing Fountain”.

In Zechariah, He is the “Pierced Son”.

In Malachi, He is the “Son of Righteousness”.

In the New Testament, Christ is found in…

Matthew as the “Messiah”.

Mark as the “Miracle Worker”.

Luke, as the “Son of Man.”

John, as the “Son of God.”

Acts, as the “Ascended Lord”.

Romans, as the “Justifier.”

1&2 Corinthians, as the “Last Adam”

Galatians, as the “One Who Sets Us Free”

Ephesians, as the “Christ of Riches”

Philippians, as the “God Who Meets Our Every Need”

Colossians, as the “Fullness of the Godhead”

1&2 Thessalonians, as the “Soon Coming King”

1&2 Timothy, as the “Mediator Between God and Man”

Titus, as the “Blessed Hope”

Philemon, as the “Friend, Closer than a Brother”

Hebrews, as the “Blood that Washes Away My Sins”

James, as the “Great Physician”

1&2 Peter, as the “Chief Shepherd”

1, 2, 3 John, as the “Everlasting Love”

Jude, as the “God Our Savior”

and in Revelation, as the “King of kings and Lord of lords”