Throughout the New Testament, we read of Jesus/Yeshua being called “Christ”, which is a transliteration of the Greek word, “Christos”. In Hebrew, the word would be “Moshiach”, or in English, “Messiah”. This word in both languages means “Anointed”.
In Christ: The Priesthood and The Kingship, I wrote about how YHVH made covenants with Aaron and David, declaring they and their seed after them were anointed to be Priest and King, respectively.
I also pointed out that in the gospel accounts, Jesus/Yeshua “asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they told him, ‘John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.’ And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.” (Mark 8:27-30 ESV, emphasis mine)
I had said, “Being “the Christ” does not mean he is more than a man. It simply means he was the man anointed for the job.”
I was particularly referring to being “the Christ” in that statement, and how that title does not indicate something supernatural concerning his physical nature; Being “Christ” didn’t mean he was something other than a human being.
But what does it mean to be “the Christ”?
Why Jesus/Yeshua is Called The Christ
Notice that it was Peter who identified Jesus/Yeshua to be “the Christ”.
In The Authentic Peter: The Preaching of Simeon Kefa – From the Journal of Clement, also found in The Nazarene Acts of the Apostles, I recently read Peter’s instruction to Clement as to why Yeshua is called the Christ, Moshiach, or Messiah.
Chapter XLV: Y’shua: Why Called the Moshiach
Then Kefa began to instruct me in this manner: When Elohim had made the world, as Master of the universe, He appointed chiefs over the several creatures, over the trees even, and the mountains, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all things which He had made, as we have told you; for it were too long to mention them one by one. He set, therefore, a malach as chief over the malachim, a spirit over the spirits, a star over the stars, a demon over the demons, a bird over the birds, a beast over the beasts, a serpent over the serpents, a fish over the fishes, and a man over men, who is Moshiach Y’shua.
But He is called Moshiach by a certain excellent rite of obedience; for as there are certain names common to melekim, as Ahashwerosh among the Persians, Caesar among the Romans, Pharaoh among the Mitsrayim, so among the Yahudaïm a melek is called Moshiach.
And the reason of this appellation is this: Although indeed He is the Son of YHWH, and the beginning of all things, He became as man; Him first YHWH anointed with oil which was taken from the wood of the tree of life: from that anointing therefore He is called Moshiach.
Thence, moreover, He Himself also, according to the appointment of His Father, anoints with similar oil every one of the obedient when they come to His kingdom, for their refreshment after their labors, as having got over the difficulties of the way; so that their light may shine, and being filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, they may be endowed with immortality. But it occurs to me that I have sufficiently explained to you the whole nature of that branch from which that ointment is taken. [SOURCE: p. 42-43; emphasis mine]
A man over men, I totally get that concept. While there have been other Messiahs over the course of time, it seems to me that Yeshua is identified as the Messiah for all time.
I don’t know where Peter gets the idea that “…YHWH anointed with oil which was taken from the wood of the tree of life”, but it resonates with me.
Peter goes on to speak of Anointing in the next chapter…
Chapter XLVI: Anointing
But now also I shall, by a very short representation, recall you to the recollection of all these things. In the present life, Aaron, the first Kohen haGadol, was anointed with a composition of anointing, which was made after the pattern of that spiritual ointment of which we have spoken before. He was Sar of the people, and as a melek received first-fruits and tribute from the people, man by man; and having undertaken the office of judging the people, he judged of things clean and things unclean. But if any one else was anointed with the same ointment, as deriving virtue from it, he became either melek, or navi, or priest. If, then, this temporal favor compounded by men had such efficacy, consider now how potent was that ointment extracted by YHWH from a branch of the tree of life, when that which was made by men could confer so excellent dignities among men. For what in the present age is more glorious than a navi, more illustrious than a priest, more exalted than a melek?
H8269 שׂר śar
BDB Definition: 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H8323
H8323 שׂרר śârar
BDB Definition: 1) to be or act as prince, rule, contend, have power, prevail over, reign, govern
Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
H4428 מלך melek
BDB Definition: 1) king Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H4427
H4427 מלך mâlak
BDB Definition: 1) to be or become king or queen, reign 2) to counsel, advise
Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
H5030 נביא nâbı̂y‘
BDB Definition: 1) spokesman, speaker, prophet Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5012
H5012 נבא nâbâ’
BDB Definition: 1) to prophesy Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root
Coming across these passages have really sparked something in me, and I felt compelled to share them.
Peter continues to speak on the office of Prophet and Priest in the next few chapters and how it relates to Yeshua. I encourage you to continue reading it for yourself, then please tell me your thoughts below. I’d love to hear from you. 😉
