EPISODE 702 – THIS JESUS 1

THIS JESUS 1

“Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”

Acts 17:3 (KJV)

As part of the many beautiful revelations of Jesus, the knowledge of Him as CHRIST is the all-encompassing prophetic revelation and fulfilment.

The word “Christ” is not a new age thought of as a “chi” or a synonymous expression for a yogic higher force.

Christ is not a figment satisfaction of one’s personal imagination.

The word Christ is not Jesus’ surname or last name. My surname is “Ansah”, thus you can refer to me as Mr. Ansah. And that is how some consider  “Christ”. They assume He is Mr. CHRIST.

Christ is not necessarily His name. Christ is His title. The proper understanding of the Christ will help you appreciate the passionate tone in Paul’s statement, “and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ”. 

He made this statement as a logical conclusion of what the scriptures teach.

“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures “ Acts 17:1-2 (KJV)

In His preaching, Paul the apostle, systematically reasoned with His audience using the scriptures to make thoughtful arguments to persuade them of the revelation of Jesus as the Christ.

This term meant and still means something profound to the Jews. Christ was one they looked forward to for many centuries. Some believe Jesus is Christ, others are still looking forward to a coming Christ.

The word Christ is a transliteration of the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed” or “anointed one”. In Hebrew, it is the equivalent of the word Messiah or mashiach (which is from the verb mashach). So, to be the Christ or Messiah is to be “the anointed one”.

The anointing or sacred oil was poured on people specially chosen for the Lord’s assignment. These are mainly prophets, priests and kings. The phrase “anointed one” or “the Lord anointed” is mostly used for kings. (See 1 Samuel 24:6)

See these verses as well:

“He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed (mashach) him to consecrate him.” (Lev. 8:12)

“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed (mashach) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” (1 Sam. 16:13)

“Also, anoint (mashach) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint (mashach) Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.” (1 Kings 19:16)

Though the expression “anointed” or “Mashiach” is used in several places in the Old Testament portion of the Bible, the anointed one is mainly a term for the Messiah.

The Messiah is the prophetic title given to the King who is to come, by the prophets of old.

The prophets gave revelatory hints or codes of the coming King who would deliver his people and also rule the whole world.

By prophecy, the Messiah shall shoot forth from Israel and amidst the Jewish people.

Jacob while blessing his sons, made this prophetic declaration to Judah concerning the Messiah.

“Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be“. Genesis 49:9-10 (KJV)

Balak the king of the Moabites requested that Balaam should curse the people of Israel as they pitched in the plains of Moab. One of the prophetic visions Balaam had was the revelation of the Messiah.