Exploring the Significance of Jesus as The Christ
Discover why the title "The Christ" holds profound significance for understanding Jesus' identity and mission—and why it matters for your life.
Why Jesus as The Christ Matters
The angel in Luke 2:11 declares Jesus is not only Savior and Lord (which is a massively profound statement—gargantuan in its implications) but also The Christ. Is this a significant statement, and if it is, how much does it really matter?
The New Testament proclaims Jesus as the Christ 569 times. In addition, in Paul's letter to the Romans alone, he declares Jesus as the Christ 65 times.
The Old Testament contains a myriad of predictions and prophecies about Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. We also witness many addressing Jesus as the Christ after they have received this revelation. We see Jesus ask, “Who do people say that I am?”
Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Matt. 16:16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20
Martha’s Response: “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” John 11:27
The title "Christ" is highly significant and holds special meaning. The term "Christ" is derived from the Greek word "Christos," which means "anointed one.” It is also the New Testament word for Messiah. He wasn’t referred to as Jesus Christ because “Christ” was His last name. Instead, it was the role of the Messiah that He was fulfilling.
The Old Testament doesn’t fully make sense until you see how it points to the coming Messiah. This theme begins as early as Genesis with the promise of a Redeemer, “the Seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15). Through sacrifices, prayers, the patterns of the Tabernacle and Temple, and cries for justice, the narrative consistently builds toward Christ, the one who will make all things right.
And then, amid this grand story, you hit the genealogies. Have you ever found yourself frustrated reading them? “So and so begot so and so, and so and so begot so and so…” It’s easy to wonder why they’re there, yet even these lists have a purpose in pointing us to Christ.
In Jewish culture, your ancestry and what tribe you were from carried great importance to people. All those records were stored in the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when the Roman General Titus destroyed the Temple, including all of those genealogy records, except the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew and Luke preserved the records.
Matthew 1: The lineage of Joseph is through the lineage of David.
Luke 3: The lineage of Mary is through the line of David.
Even though it was a virgin birth, it was a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that The Messiah was to come through the Davidic line. That’s important because on the Road to Emmaus, Jesus didn’t spent His time explaining that He promised rise from the dead or He was a good teacher. He explained that He is the Messiah.
In Acts 10:38, the Apostle Peter is preaching. He says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.”
So, Jesus is not only fulfilling the reality that He is the Christ and Messiah, but when we look into the Old Testament, we see that not everyone who was in relationship with Yahweh was anointed. Instead, God anointed people to three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King.
Prophets: Those who foretold the truth of God, even foretold things in the future.
Priests: Persons who were also anointed and they stood between God and His people (aka mediators).
Kings: Those anointed to carry out civil authority with the responsibility to serve and rule.
It’s easy to overlook in Scripture, but all of these carry out messianic roles because we see them fulfilled in the person of Jesus. We even see it fulfilled in what Jesus predicated about Himself in the future.
In Matthew 3:17, Jesus is anointed with the Holy Spirit, and the Father declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, Prophet, Priest, King—all are fulfilled in one person: Jesus Christ. Let’s unpack that.
The Anointed One: Understanding Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King
Anointed as Prophet
Prophet: A spokesperson for God, a proclaimer of the future.
Jesus, the Messiah, no longer had to say, “Thus saith the Lord,” like the Old Testament prophets did. Jesus simply said, “I say unto you,” because He is the fulfillment of that picture. He’s not just a prophet, instead He’s the prophet bringing the word of God to the people of God.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus doesn't merely teach us how to live; He also tells us about the future; He's foretelling. Hebrews 1:2 shares, “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.” That’s why Jesus held the office of prophet.
Anointed as Priest
Priest: A priest is a mediator between God and people.
But Jesus wasn’t just a priest; instead, He was the ultimate priest. That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
Mediator: The in-between person; one that mediates between parties at variance.
There is a variance between our state and being in the presence of a holy God. We have all fallen and are prone to sin, which leads us from the God we love. However, Jesus is our mediator. Scripture teaches that He is our mediator through His shed blood and atonement over our sins.
JESUS: “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” John 14:6
However, Jesus isn’t just our mediator; He’s also our high priest. This is important because, in the Old Testament, the high priest would go into the holiest place in the temple once a year to sprinkle blood for the people's sins on the mercy seat, where the presence of God dwelt.
When the Scriptures declare that Jesus is now our high priest, it’s no longer necessary for a human to sprinkle blood. Jesus, as the high priest, shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
“Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17
Jesus took on human form so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, making propitiation, which is the blood atonement. For our sins to be forgiven, something of equal or higher value had to be sacrificed, and it was the Son of God.
“Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus sympathizes with your weakness. That’s not a pastor's opinion; that’s the Word of God for the people of God. He understands, but He does so without sinning.
“And being made perfect, He (Jesus Christ) became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:9-10 (explanation added)
Melchizedek shows up in Genesis. We don't know much about him other than he's an eternal being. We know that he also serves in the office of priest, prophet, and king. Some people even say he's a prototype of Jesus himself. However, the Bible doesn't tell us that. Therefore, there’s a lot we don't know, but here's the picture: When he showed up in Genesis, Abraham was in a crisis. Melchizedek strengthened Abraham in a circumstance that he was in when he was going through difficulty.
That's a picture of Jesus available to you in weakness and when you feel defeated. There’s a greater power available to you.
Anointed as King
In the Old Testament, Samuel anointed David king. We see this repeated in other places in Scripture, too. In Isaiah, when talking about Jesus, Isaiah refers to something about Jesus that is eternally true but will also come true related to His second coming.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Then we also see in Revelation 17:14: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
The day will come when Jesus reigns on earth as King.
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: ‘The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.’” Revelation 11:15
This is why Paul wrote in Ephesians 1: “And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)
If you’re wondering, “What does this have to do with me?" Let me explain. When we lose fellowship with Jesus, we lose fellowship with the anointed of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we’ve lost the gift of the priest operating as your mediator with God. When you lose fellowship with Jesus Christ, you’ve lost the gift of the power and love of God.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Now, when that verse starts out, "I have been crucified with Christ,” that means that I'm not living with my old nature under control; instead, it means I'm not living with:
My pride being out front.
Anger being reigning on my heart.
Lust anchoring on my heart.
Unforgiveness reigning on my heart.
It means we’re not living according to the flesh. So when Paul says, "To be crucified with Christ," he means I want to live into His purposes, not my fleshy preferences; I've been crucified with Christ. This is how Christianity works. No longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.
Why does Paul use the word “Christ” instead of “Son of God” or the name Jesus? It’s because Paul understands that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. As the Messiah and the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies, He has the authority to literally reign in our hearts so that we can taste the gift of life. We can experience the Word of God through the prophet Jesus.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31
John didn’t finish that verse by saying that you may believe Jesus is the Christ so you can become more religious or so that you could become approved. No, he said, I want you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, so that by believing you may have life in His”
This is a supernatural life source that stems from the inside out. It's not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me.
TL;DR
The angel's declaration of Jesus as "The Christ" in Luke 2:11 points to His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and His role as Prophet, Priest, and King.
This title signifies His anointing as the Messiah who mediates between God and humanity, reigns as King, and brings life to His followers.
Jesus' identity as The Christ isn't just theological—it transforms how we live and relate to God.