And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:6 (New King James Version)
The first words of the New Testament introduce Jesus as the Christ (Matt. 1:1, depending on the version), and John wrote that the whole reason he wrote his gospel was so that people would “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” so that they would receive eternal life in His name (NASB, John 20:30-31). Many people tend to use the word Christ as if it is Jesus’ last name, when it is actually a title referencing God’s special appointment of Jesus. Christ is the English transliteration of the Greek word “Christos” [Χριστός], which translates the Hebrew word “Mashaiah” [מָשִיח] from which we get the word “Messiah”. Both “Christ” and “Messiah” mean “anointed one,” a term that refers to a divinely appointed person.
In the Old Testament, three primary types of people were divinely appointed through the anointing of oil: kings, priests, and prophets (See Exod. 28:41, 1 Sam. 10:1, and 1 Kings 19:16 as examples). As the leaders, kings represented authority or dominion. As those who stood on behalf of God to the people and on behalf of the people to God, priests represented mediation. Likewise, as those who spoke forth the words of God, prophets were God’s spokespeople. The New Testament claim that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah (the anointed one), means that Jesus is God’s great, long-promised hero, sent to save the World as God’s ultimate authority, mediator, and spokesperson.
Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil to set them apart and appoint them for their roles, but Jesus was called the Christ before ever receiving the anointing of oil (Mark 8:29; 14:8). Instead, Jesus said that he was anointed directly by God through the Holy Spirit (Is. 61:1, Luke 4:18). The oil of anointing in the Old Testament was a symbol or a picture, pointing forward to the true anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. God distinguished Jesus as His highest authority, His singular mediator, and His ultimate spokesperson by sending the Spirit to rest on Him after He was immersed in the Jordan by John the Baptist. It was in that moment, which kicked off Jesus’ ministry, that God proclaimed from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matt. 3:17).
This is important for us today for two reasons. Firstly, we must recognize that Jesus is God’s only chosen king and we must obey Him as our authority; Jesus is God’s only chosen priest, and we must look to no other to escort us into God’s presence; Jesus is God’s only chosen prophet and we must listen to Him. Secondly, we should remember that we are called Christians, “Christianos” [Χριστιανός], a word that literally means “little Christs.” It is well known that the term “Christian” was started as a slur against Jesus’ disciples (Acts 11:26, 26:28), but it is rarely recalled that the Apostles welcomed the name (1 Pet. 4:16). We are “little Christs” and as such we should remember that the Holy Spirit has anointed us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. In his first letter to the church at large, Peter called us “a royal priesthood,” (1 Pet. 2:9). This should remind us that we have been appointed by the anointing of the Spirit as Christ’s authorities through whom He rules on the earth, and Christ’s ambassadors through whom He reconciles humanity to God (2 Cor. 5:17-21). We are also Christ’s spokespeople, through whom He proclaims His Word to the World.
Jesus is God’s anointed king, priest, and prophet, and, as His body, we have been set apart to rule, reconcile, and reach on His behalf.
May God empower us to represent Him faithfully in this mission.
In Christ,
Matt Harris
P.S. If you would like to know more, I have written a seventeen-page workbook on this topic that I would be happy to send you.
