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Mark
  


c) The Significance of the Official Appellative of Christ
“Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah” meaning “anointed”. It is a term employed to designate the kings of the Old Testament rather as an appellative, or common name. Cyrus, the king of Persia, himself was called christ (Isaiah 45:1). Not only kings, but also distinguished priests and prophets were also christs having been anointed with holy oil. This anointment was a symbol of the spiritual qualification divinely imparted for its due discharge. The figurative use of this word has reference strictly to the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the anointed one that he may receive the right, the wisdom, the power, the mercy, and all the other qualities required for a special dignity, function or privilege to enable him to perform his functions in accordance with the will of God.
Through the anointed ones of the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit revealed gradually, that a unique Christ would come in whom dwelt all the fullness of God’s gifts. Isaiah the prophet foretold his birth in 700 BC, saying: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Jesus himself confirmed another prophecy of Isaiah, when he sat down into the synagogue of Nazareth, and quoted the prophecy with application to himself, as he read: “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.” (Luke 4:18-19)
He confessed publicly his divine kingdom Before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, saying: “My kingdom is not of this world… I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:36-37).
From these proofs, we recognize that Jesus of Nazareth was not an anointed one, but the Anointed One and the Christ himself, the unique Chosen One of God in whom the qualities of all the kings, prophets, and priests sent by God are met. He is the humble King to whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth. He is greater than all the prophets, for he is the incarnate Word of God, bearing the full revelation in himself. He is the true High Priest having reconciled, by his self-sacrifice, all men to God. He is the only Mediator in whom God meets with men.
Jesus is the priestly King who purchased the people of his kingdom with his own blood, called them into his fellowship, justified them, sanctified them, and changed them into a new creation that they might become a royal priesthood praying for the disobedient world.
Christ will be the Judge in the Day of Judgment, for besides his deity, he is a Man and he knows what is in a man. He is the Almighty who can raise the dead, as he had practically proved.
The greatness of Jesus Christ explodes all human measures, for he is the Word with whom God created all. He is the Lord of the worlds who expects our complete submission to him. He has the right to receive our worship, as he received the worship of those whom he had healed in Galilee. We find in the name of “Christ” a summary of the power of God and the ability to carry out his redemptive plan.
The Jews, at the time of Jesus, knew the prophecies about the coming Christ by heart, and awaited his appearance eagerly hoping that he would deliver them from the yoke of the Roman colonization. They misunderstood God’s intents, and expected a political redeemer and hero who would mobilize and ready them for destroying their enemies, and not a meek, merciful Savior. Moreover, when Jesus Christ came humbly without arms or money, void of any earthly power, walking on his feet, wandering in the villages and towns, and preaching the gospel of salvation, they flared up, refused the Promised One, and delivered him to the Roman governor as a political rebel that he might sentence him to death in shame. Now, the Jews are still waiting for a christ who would make Jerusalem forcibly the center of the world, a christ who would raise the dead, and rule the peoples with the rod of Moses. This is why many will joyfully and cheerfully receive the antichrist who will mislead men with his tricks, attractive beauty, and deadly power, throwing the nations into misery and despair.
However, the true Christ, the sympathizing, gentle Jesus has overcome all the temptations leading to sins in his body. He denied selfishness and with his self-sacrifice found the remission of our sins with God. He also overcame the ghost of death when he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, where he reigns at the right hand of God in complete unity with him, mediating and interceding for all those who believe in him, whom he had cleansed and given the power of his Spirit as a gift and grace. As such, he establishes the kingdom of his love in the midst of the hatred of men. Christ is the King of Peace, and the Triumphant over all the powers against God.
All humble Christians bear the name of their Christ in their hearts, for through their faith in him, and their baptism in his name, the Holy Spirit dwelt in them that they became anointed with the divine anointment, as Peter cried out at Pentecost: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer
O holy God, we praise you because you sent to us your promised Christ, in whom all the fullness of your Godhead dwelt bodily, and who excels all kings, priests, and prophets. We worship to you for Christ did not overcome the world with weapons and battles, but with love and humility, giving his followers the anointment of the Holy Spirit. Please anoint us too that we may live in harmony with Christ. Amen.
Question
What is the significance of the title of “Christ”?