Posted on 03/06/2004 3:43:41 PM PST by bogdanPolska12
Mel Gibson's new film, "The Passion of Jesus the Christ", has taken America by storm - and I for one am thrilled at the timing of it's release. We needed such a message at just this moment in our history...
I was wondering though just how many people fully grasp the importance of the phrasing in the title, i.e., ... "The Christ". How many people are aware of the meaning of the word "Christ"? We all know that words have meaning but, all too often, over time, the meaning of a word can be lost for those who use it and for those who hear it.
So, what is the meaning of the word "Christ" when "the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Matt: 26:63
In the Old Testament there are over 300 references to the (then) coming Messiah that were fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Those references predated His presence on earth by thousands of years - and He fulfilled every single one of them. (The statistical probability of a man fulfilling only 8 of those prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power which is 100,000,000,000,000,000 ... can you imagine what that number would look like if it reflected His having fulfilled more than 300 prophecies?)
According to Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicons, the Hebrew word "Messiah" means "anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah:--anointed, Messiah. a) (Qal) 1) to smear 2) to anoint (as consecration) 3) to anoint, consecrate b) (Niphal) to be anointed". So, those 300+ prophecies were proclaiming the coming of the Messiah and that He was God's anointed One...
And further, the Greek word "Christ" (Christos khris-tos') means "anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet (see note) of Jesus:--Christ. The anointed one and His anointing. Christ = "anointed": 1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God, 2) anointed: 1) to anoint a) consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration b) enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit." (Note: Epithet: A characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing.)
So, when we hear or speak the word "Christ" we are not speaking Jesus' last name... We are actually characterizing Jesus as the promised Messiah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Son of God, the anointed one through whose anointing believers are brought into a state of righteousness before God and are blessed through the receiving of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Isn't it glorious to know that when even non-believers use the words "Jesus Christ" they are actually themselves proclaiming the truth... That Jesus is the Son of God!
I love words.
And further, the Greek word "Christ" (Christos khris-tos') means "anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet (see note) of Jesus:--Christ. The anointed one and His anointing. Christ = "anointed": 1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God, 2) anointed: 1) to anoint a) consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration b) enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit." (Note: Epithet: A characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing.)
How come in the Hebrew 'Messiah' have various options, but in the Greek all other options disappear? Isn't that kind of leading the reading to an end result that isn't really there?
I believe the answer is that the Greek syntax and vocabulary were more complex than the Hebrew, so in Hebrew the same word could be a noun, verb or adverb depending upon the usage, whereas Greek would have had several different words using the same root "chri-." For instance, "Christos" means "one who is annointed", "chrisma" is "ointment, and "chriein" is "to annoint."
Actually, its not a name.
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" [Psalm 118:26]
Barukh haba b'Shem Adonai
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord
Y'shua haMashiach
a bondslave to the Christ
chuck
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