Christ

John 20:31 boldly declares that "Jesus is the Christ." Why is that a bold statement? To understand why we have to do a little digging into what the name "Christ" means because I think, in our modern language, it's lost some of its true meaning and power.

The original Greek word used for Christ in John 20:31 is Χριστός or Christós, which means anointed.[1] At first glance, that might not seem all that powerful. After all, the Bible records that God anointed many humans for His service, specifically priests and kings (Exodus 28:41, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16:13).

Why is Χριστός, Christ, so bold, so crucial in this context? The verse says that "Jesus is the Christ" [emphasis mine]. Jesus is the Anointed.

Previously God anointed men to do His work on earth for a finite amount of time. But the birth of Jesus the Christ announced that while men may be called or anointed for service, their time is limited. Only one is the Anointed, only one who will carry on the role for all of eternity.

God commissioned men to serve as earthly priests and kings. But God sent Christ, the Anointed One, to serve as the High Priest and King over all humanity for all eternity!

"Jesus is the Christ!" What a bold statement!

Today we invite you to reflect on Christ, the Anointed One, our High Priest and King. What do you think of when you hear the term priest? What do you think of when you hear the term king? How do you imagine you would carry yourself in the presence of the Pope? How would you conduct yourself around the Queen of England? If Jesus is our ultimate High Priest and King, what posture should we have before Him?

The understanding that Christ Jesus is the Anointed One for all eternity gives me so much peace. This world, with its human leaders, is flawed, but it's also fleeting. My hope isn't placed in men; my hope is in Christ. Where do you place your hope today?

[1] W. E Vine, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997), 182.