C is for Christ

Most of us are familiar with the name "Christ", usually used as part of the personal name of Jesus Christ. Even the non-believer is heard to use it as an expletive. How it came to be that, I have never understood other than another way of Satan endeavoring to turn man’s thoughts away from Christ as our Redeemer.

According the Wikipedia, the Greek word of "khristos" means "anointed one", and is a translation of the Hebrew word "Masiah" translated into English as Messiah. Both the words of Christ and Messiah mean, "anointed one". In the Old Testament when the promised one, the Messiah to come, was referred to, He was referred to as "The anointed one". The New Testament identified Jesus as Christ, the "Anointed One" 530 times. Jesus was not anointed with oil, but He was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism.

In Biblical times oil was used for many things. It was also used for sacred purposes such as Israel’s high priests when taking that office. Some of Israel’s kings, especially from the line of David, were anointed by pouring the oil on the head in a circle to form a crown.

In Luke 9:20 Jesus asked Peter "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered "You are ‘The Christ of God’. In Matthew 16:16 he was quoted as saying "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God". He was admitting that Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One from God.

Acts 2:36 states "Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (our anointed one)."

Hymns of Praise then let us sing
Unto Christ, our heavenly King
Who endured the Cross and grave
Sinners to redeem and save.

Christ, God’s ‘Anointed One’ finished the job He came to do. Halleluia, what a Saviour! Amen