Messiah
Messiah means anointed one or chosen one. It comes from the Hebrew word, Mashiach - meaning Christos translated in English as Christ. So when we say that Jesus is the Messiah, we are saying Jesus is the anointed one, hence our name for the Lord: Jesus Christ.
The Messiah was promised through prophesy in the old testament. Anytime we refer to Jesus as the Christ, we are proclaiming Him to be this Messiah. Jesus’s arrival matched what was fortold in the prophesies about how to recognize the coming Messiah, and what He would do for His people.
What is the significance of being anointed? A high priest is anointed as a “chosen one” to be the go-between for the people and the Lord. It is a special role. We are told that Jesus is the high priest through the order of Melchizedek, ( Hebrews 7:11-(14,15,16-21-(26) , which unlike the Levite priests , is not inherited through bloodline, nor is preceded or succeeded. This is symbolic in that Jesus is the High Priest once and for all. And through his death and resurrection, became the go-between for us and the Father.
But it doesn’t stop there!
We are then anointed in a similar way when we invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts, and through the Great Commission, that mantel of priesthood is passed on to us that we may bring others to Christ. We are chosen by him (1 Peter 2:9). As He is so are we (Gal.2:20).
John 17 recounts Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer in which he prays to the Father that we may be one with Him and have the same anointing.Wow what a privilege!
Now is your time to receive the Holy Spirit, like Jesus (Matthew 3:13 -17) ( Luke 4:18-19 ), so Christ - The Anointed One - can bless you with the same.
- by Wong Lee Young, Pastor at Love Center Church in Atlantic City, NJ
revyouwon@comcast.net