Why Jesus Is Called “the Christ”

10/01/24 • 3 min

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The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ...

Mark 1:1

Jesus was a common name among the Jews until the beginning of the second century, but Christ is a title, telling us what this person named Jesus came into the world to do.

Today, we might speak about Dave “the plumber,” or Diane “the teacher.” Plumbing is what Dave does. Teaching is what Diane does. Similarly, Jesus is “the Christ.” This means He is “the Messiah,” or “the Deliverer.” Confronting what is wrong and putting it right is what Jesus does.

The Old Testament tells the story of the great human disaster—that our human sinfulness has fouled up God’s world, and it keeps happening. The idea that we have the ability to restore this world, and become what God calls us to be, has been disproved by thousands of years of human experience. But back in the garden of Eden, God promised that someone would come into the world, destroy the work of our enemy, and put things right (Gen. 3:15). And now, Mark is telling us that He has come, and His name is Jesus. He is “the Christ.”

If you hear someone say "Jesus Christ!" in a fit of anger, you might like to say to them: “Do you know what you just said? You just confessed that Jesus is God’s promised deliverer. Is that what you believe? What is it that you need Him to deliver you from?”

The centre point of Mark’s gospel comes when Jesus asks the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter says, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29). “You are the promised One who has come to confront what is wrong and to put it right.”

Jesus is “the Christ.” Even His name is full of hope.

What would you say if Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say that I am?”

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ...

Mark 1:1

Jesus was a common name among the Jews until the beginning of the second century, but Christ is a title, telling us what this person named Jesus came into the world to do.

Jesus is “the Christ.” Even His name is full of hope.

What would you say if Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say that I am?”

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God is Able to Present You to Himself

Now to him who is able to... present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy...

Jude 24

Try and imagine what this will be like.

First, you will be presented before God’s glorious presence... blameless. The word translated “blameless” is the same word that was used to describe a sacrificial animal in the Old Testament that was acceptable to God. It had to be blameless, without defect or fault.

Can you imagine yourself faultless? Every one of the effects of sin will be healed. Now you are like a burned stick pulled from the fire. Sin has done damage to us all, but when you are presented to God, you will be healed from every scar, every wound, every effect of sin.

Your mind will be faultless. You will know God even as you are known. Confusion, uncertainty, and doubts will be gone forever. You will be faultless in your soul. Fears will be gone. You will love God with all your mind and strength. Your desires will be undivided.

Your body will be faultless—no more pain, disease, or medication. You will live at the height of your redeemed and perfected physical powers. And you will be able to offer yourself fully to God. You will reflect the perfect Lamb of God who loved you and gave Himself for you. You will be in a position to offer your whole self to God, who will embrace and welcome you.

Second, you will be presented by God the Son to God the Father with great joy! Imagine what the joy of God is like. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2). He saw the joy of the last day, and it was so great that He counted it worth the agony of the cross. When He looked at the cross and He looked at the joy, He said, “It’s worth it!” If His suffering was so great, what must this joy be like?

God “will exult over you with loud singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Try to imagine this.

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Why Is Jesus Called “the Son of God”

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The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:1

It is important to remember that God the Father did not gain a Son when Jesus was born. God sent the Son, who was already at the Father’s side, into the world. The Son shared the Father’s glory, the Father’s life, and the Father’s love before He came into the world.

“[The Son] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Heb. 1:3). Jesus even said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). You might be like your father in many ways, but no one would say these kinds of things about the two of you.

In the ancient world names described character. This is very different from our normal understanding of a father and a son. For example, the apostles nicknamed Joseph “Barnabas,” which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Joseph was encouragement personified, encouragement in the flesh, so they called him "son of encouragement.”

When Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Mat. 5:9), He was saying that God is the great peacemaker, and that when you make peace you reflect His character. So, when Mark tells us Jesus is “the Son of God,” he is telling us that Jesus is everything that God is in the flesh.

The more you think about this, the more staggering it gets. The great mystery at the centre of all true Christian faith is this: Jesus is the Son of God. The disciples didn’t pretend to understand it. But they did believe it. They followed Jesus with a faith that seeks understanding, and that is how we must follow Him too.

Are you following Jesus with this kind of faith?