Have you ever asked yourself what “Christ” means? I know I have. One answer I’ve heard from many different people is that it’s just Jesus’s last name because it is often stated, “Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 13:8 NIV – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Biblical Language

Many times in scripture, “Christ” is mentioned, but what does it actually mean? To answer that, we need to look back once again to the Old Testament (OT). When we look back, we see that the word “Christ” is not in the OT. However, the word itself is there, but in a different Biblical language. Christ is the Greek word for “Christos” (Χριστός), translated to “anointed one.” Biblical Hebrew also has a similar word, Mashiach (or Messiah מָשִׁיחַ), which is also translated “anointed one.” We see something very similar in the Latin as well.

So what does that phrase mean?

Definition of “Annointed.”

A quick search in the dictionary tells us that annointed means: “consecrated or made sacred; dedicated to God, often in a ceremony that includes dabbing or sprinkling with holy oil.” In the OT, three groups of people were anointed: the Kings, the Priests, and the Prophets. The king was the political and military leader of Israel, designated to govern the nation under God’s supreme authority. The priest functioned as the mediator between a holy God and a sinful people. The prophet functioned as God’s ambassador and spokesperson to the people. So we see that scripture sets the stage for explaining who Christ is in the New Testament (NT). In the OT, the men who represented these three groups were not perfect, and many of them committed sinful acts and disobeyed God’s calling. This was to show us our need for someone who IS perfect and CAN save us. This was the promise of Genesis 3:15, that one would come to reconcile us back to God.

Jesus is the Christ

As King, He fulfilled the promise of an eternal ruler from the lineage of David by establishing a kingdom that is not of this world, but reigns in the hearts of believers. He completed this office by conquering the ultimate enemies of sin and death through His resurrection, and He will return to rule over all creation with absolute justice, righteousness, and peace.

Isaiah 9:7 NIV – “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

As Priest, He fulfilled the office of the ultimate mediator by bridging the gap between God and humanity. Unlike the Old Testament priests who repeatedly offered the blood of animals, He served as both the flawless High Priest and the perfect lamb, offering Himself as a single, final sacrifice to completely wash away our sins forever.

Hebrews 4:14 NIV – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”

As Prophet, He fulfilled the role of God’s ultimate messenger by speaking with absolute divine authority and perfectly revealing God’s character to humanity. He completed this office by accurately foretelling future events and enduring the same rejection and suffering as the prophets who came before Him.

Hebrews 1:1–2 NIV – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”.

Now, when we look through the lens of what Christ means (Messiah, Anointed one), it also gives us a clearer picture of who Jesus is and what He did for us. As we have seen when we refer to “Jesus Christ” or “Christ” in the NT, it refers to the fulfillment of the OT prophecy of the one to come who is the Messiah (Christ, Annointed one). When we understand who Jesus is as the Christ, it gives us a clear understanding of who He is. As the Christ, it means that He came as the perfect King, Priest, and Prophet.

So when we read ‘Christ’ or ‘Jesus Christ,’ it is not a last name, nor is it a nickname. It is the divine title of who He is, beautifully revealing everything He did for us.

Blessings
J.B