David Koberstein
Member
And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation.
He opposes payments of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king. Luke 23:2
It is always enriching to examine the most basic words that Christians use in their original cultural context.
One of the most important words is "Christ." The word "Christ" comes from christos, a Greek word meaning
"anointed." It is equivalent of the word mashiach, or "Messiah" in Hebrew.
To be anointed is literally to have sacred anointing oil poured on one's head because G_d had chosen the
person for a special task. In the Bible, kings were anointed during their coronation, rather than be given a
crown (I Samuel 10:1, for example). Priests were also anointed, but the noun mashiach ("anointed one") was
almost always used to refer to a king. For instance, David referred to King Saul as mashiach ("the Lords anointed")
even when Saul was attempting to kill him (1 Samuel 24:10). So, the main picture of the word "Messiah" or
"Christ" as the "anointed one" was of a king chosen by G_d.
Prophecies from early on point towards a great king in Israel (Gen. 49:10). But, the clearest prophecy is from David's
time, when G_d promised David that from his family would come one whose kingdom would have no end.
(1 Chronicles 17:11-14). This prophecy is understood as being fulfilled first in Solomon, but much more powerfully
in a "Son of David" who would have a kingdom without end. It is the beginning of all of the prophecies about the
"Son of David" as Christ.
Even though we miss the cultural pictures, the Gospels tell us often that Jesus is the great King who has come.
The Magi came to find the "King of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2). And, during Jesus' trial, he was asked,
"Are you the King of the Jews?" and Jesus answered affirmatively:
Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "It is as you say" (Luke 23:3).
Knowing that "Messiah" and "Christ" mean "anointed king" has implications for what a Christian is. We tend to define
ourselves by our doctrines and beliefs, but the very word "Christ" calls us to more than that. If "Christ" is a king, a
Christian is one who acknowledges Jesus as his King and submits to His reign!
Shalom שלום
האזנה ללשון המקרא
לויס טברברג
He opposes payments of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king. Luke 23:2
It is always enriching to examine the most basic words that Christians use in their original cultural context.
One of the most important words is "Christ." The word "Christ" comes from christos, a Greek word meaning
"anointed." It is equivalent of the word mashiach, or "Messiah" in Hebrew.
To be anointed is literally to have sacred anointing oil poured on one's head because G_d had chosen the
person for a special task. In the Bible, kings were anointed during their coronation, rather than be given a
crown (I Samuel 10:1, for example). Priests were also anointed, but the noun mashiach ("anointed one") was
almost always used to refer to a king. For instance, David referred to King Saul as mashiach ("the Lords anointed")
even when Saul was attempting to kill him (1 Samuel 24:10). So, the main picture of the word "Messiah" or
"Christ" as the "anointed one" was of a king chosen by G_d.
Prophecies from early on point towards a great king in Israel (Gen. 49:10). But, the clearest prophecy is from David's
time, when G_d promised David that from his family would come one whose kingdom would have no end.
(1 Chronicles 17:11-14). This prophecy is understood as being fulfilled first in Solomon, but much more powerfully
in a "Son of David" who would have a kingdom without end. It is the beginning of all of the prophecies about the
"Son of David" as Christ.
Even though we miss the cultural pictures, the Gospels tell us often that Jesus is the great King who has come.
The Magi came to find the "King of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2). And, during Jesus' trial, he was asked,
"Are you the King of the Jews?" and Jesus answered affirmatively:
Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "It is as you say" (Luke 23:3).
Knowing that "Messiah" and "Christ" mean "anointed king" has implications for what a Christian is. We tend to define
ourselves by our doctrines and beliefs, but the very word "Christ" calls us to more than that. If "Christ" is a king, a
Christian is one who acknowledges Jesus as his King and submits to His reign!
Shalom שלום
האזנה ללשון המקרא
לויס טברברג