Christ

"Christ" is the Greek form of "Messiah" as explained by John himself (John 1:41, 4:25). Messiah is an English translation of the Hebrew word mashiyach pronounced mah-shee'-akh. Both Christ and Messiah means the annointed one.

As for the word that He sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. — Acts 10:36-38 (ESV)

To be anointed as the king, prophet, saviour and so forth, you need a superior authority. In Jesus' case this superior authority is God Himself. Peter explains that as God's anointed, Jesus act on behalf of God with His power, for example he was able to heal those oppressed by the devil. Then Peter explains, this is possible because "God was with him".

What the Prophets Emphasized

When we compare messianic prophecies, a pattern emerges:

Suffering Prophecies

  1. Psalm 16:8-11 - "not abandon my soul to Sheol" (resurrection)
  2. Isaiah 50:6 - "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard"
  3. Isaiah 52:13-15 - "his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance", alongside the servant's exaltation
  4. Isaiah 53:5 - "he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities"
  5. Daniel 9:26 - "an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing"

Reigning Prophecies

These passages belong to the Messianic collection:

  1. Genesis 49:10 - "The scepter shall not depart from Judah"
  2. Numbers 24:17 - "A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel"
  3. 2 Samuel 7:12-16 - "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever"
  4. Psalm 2 - "I have set my King on Zion"
  5. Psalm 110:1-4 - "Sit at my right hand"
  6. Isaiah 11:1-10 - "he shall judge the poor"
  7. Isaiah 42:1-4 - "he will bring forth justice to the nations"
  8. Jeremiah 23:5-6 - "he shall reign as king and deal wisely"
  9. Daniel 7:13-14 - "to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom"
  10. Micah 5:2 - "one who is to be ruler in Israel"
  11. Zechariah 9:9-10 - "your king is coming to you"; verse 10 also describes peace and dominion

The reigning passages describe royal rule alongside the suffering and vindication passages; these lists do not establish a universal Jewish expectation.

Restoration Prophecies

These indexed restoration passages are not limited to suffering or kingship. The promises of ending death and establishing a new covenant are the Father's promises connected with the Messiah's mission, not an identification of the Messiah as the Father.

  1. Genesis 3:15 - Conflict between the serpent and the woman's seed
  2. Isaiah 25:8 - The Father's promise to swallow up death forever
  3. Isaiah 35:5-6 - Promised healing signs
  4. Jeremiah 31:31-34 - A new covenant, with the Father's law written on hearts
  5. Zechariah 6:12-13 - "Behold, a man whose name is the Branch... he shall build the temple and shall bear royal glory"

The Timing of Jesus's Life

Many speculators point out that Jesus had to be born around 4-6 BC because of various historical reasons ranging from Roman roads, to Pax Romana often citing that God somehow needed these human structures to spread the Gospel.

If Jesus primary goal was to teach "the Gospel of repentance and salvation", why was he not born in this digital age with internet, YouTube, Social Media, AI, which is far more efficient than the Roman structures to spread information? Or why was Jesus not born directly after the flood of Noah or at the tower of Babel when the human population were concentrated in one place?

Some historians say it was during the time when Paganism was at its peak with the most idolatry. However, idolatry was rampant during many other periods in history too. If this was the reason, why did Jesus not live when Canaan's idolatry was at its peak?

Some Christians argue that Jesus needed the Roman cross to pay for sin. However, the Bible states it was the blood that paid for the sin, not the cross.

Background Context

Initially God called Israel to be "the Kingdom of Priests" (Exodus 19:6) and to be His chosen people to represent Him to the world (Deuteronomy 4:5-8; 1 Peter 2:9-10).

Yet, a few centuries later Israel fell to Babylonian captivity (586 BC) because of their lawlessness and idolatry (2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36). God had to punish them to show to the world that He does not tolerate idolatry (Deuteronomy 29:22-28).

After returning from exile, they rebuilt the temple and re-established the Mosaic covenant (Ezra; Nehemiah). However, over the centuries Judaism went to the other extreme by becoming heavily legalistic (Mark 2:27) and ritualistic, focusing on outward observance of the law rather than inward relationship with God (Matthew 15:7-9) which led to hypocrisy (Matthew 23:23; Mark 7:8-13). This distorted the understanding of God's character. The hypocrisy led to extreme Jewish Factionalism (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots) which further confused the people and caused inward fighting.

The Purpose of Jesus

The "LORD" (also known as Yahweh or Jehovah) God originally created our world to be very good (Genesis 1:31).

And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. — Genesis 2:8-9 (ESV)

The LORD GOD commanded:

"You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." — Genesis 2:16-17 (ESV)

Unfortunately God's enemy decided to take his revenge on God's creation by deceiving the woman (1 Timothy 2:14) who then gave the forbidden fruit to her husband (Genesis 3:6), Adam, who chose to rather obey his wife than God (Genesis 3:17).

The penalty (curse) for this sin was pain (Genesis 3:16), hard labour (Genesis 3:17-19), and a limited lifespan (Genesis 3:19) which means death came to all humanity (Romans 5:12). However, as the Prophet Ezekiel recorded God's words:

"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD." — Ezekiel 18:32 (ESV)

God promised that the "Messiah" (translated as "Christ" from Greek manuscripts) would succeed where Adam failed. Jesus's purpose includes revealing the Father, representing humanity before Him and mediating reconciliation to save us from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). His obedient life, self-giving death and resurrection are essential to reconciliation, alongside his teaching and role as King.

Revealing the Father

Jesus came to make God the Father known (John 1:18, 17:6-8,26; 1 John 4:9-10; Philippians 2:5-11). His teaching, including the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and his actions showed the Father's character and will (John 14). His parables, including the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24), illustrated this character.

This is representation from the Father to humanity. It belongs alongside Christ's representation of humanity before the Father, rather than being his sole purpose.

Representing Humanity Before the Father

Romans 5:18-19 contrasts Adam's disobedience and condemnation with Christ's obedience and the gift of life:

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. — Romans 5:19 (ESV)

Paul calls Christ the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Death came through a man, and resurrection also comes through a man, with hope for those who belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). Jesus therefore represents humanity before the Father as an obedient human. This is central to restoring humanity.

His humanity was real: he experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), weariness (John 4:6) and suffering without sin or retaliation (1 Peter 2:21-23). These experiences make him a fitting human representative, but sympathy alone does not forgive sins; his obedient self-giving brings people to God.

A Human Mediator

Scripture distinguishes the one God, the Father, from the appointed human mediator:

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. — 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)

This human mediation is more than a title. Christ voluntarily gives his life as a ransom (Matthew 20:28) and suffers for sins to bring people to God (1 Peter 3:18). His sacrifice and resurrection are essential to reconciliation, not merely secondary to his teaching.

The Father's love initiates reconciliation through his Son (1 John 4:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christ's offering is not an attempt to make an unwilling Father love humanity. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, believers receive peace with God and access to his grace (Romans 5:1-2).

Advocacy and Intercession

Mediation establishes reconciliation and access to the Father. Advocacy addresses believers' sin, while intercession is Christ's continuing appeal on their behalf:

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. — 1 John 2:1 (ESV)

His advocacy rests on his righteousness and his sacrifice for sins (1 John 2:1-2), not sympathy alone. This representation continues after resurrection:

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. — Romans 8:34 (ESV)

The risen Christ therefore continues to represent believers before the Father; his service did not end at the crucifixion.

Adoption and Resurrection Hope

Through Christ, believers receive adoption into the Father's family. Galatians 4:4-7 and Ephesians 1:5 describe adoption through Jesus Christ; Romans 8:15-17 describes believers as children of the Father and heirs with Christ. Adoption makes them his children, not deities.

Human resurrection is also part of this hope:

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 (ESV)

Paul specifies those who belong to Christ. These benefits concern believers who receive access through faith, not automatic salvation for every human.

Common Misconceptions

The Gospel should not be reduced to the crucifixion alone, but neither should Christ's sacrifice and resurrection be treated as unimportant.

Jesus revealed the Father and announced the Kingdom while living the obedient life that culminated in a voluntary ransom (Matthew 20:28). His mediation and the resurrection hope are essential to that Gospel, not substitutes for his teaching and Kingdom rule.

The Gospel of Jesus

Jesus's sacrifice and resurrection are essential to mediation and reconciliation, while the Gospel also announces the Kingdom and reveals the Father. It cannot be reduced to crucifixion alone. Jesus preached:

"From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" — Matthew 4:17 (ESV); Mark 1:15

This was Jesus's first sermon in his public ministry.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus's Gospel centered on the Kingdom:

  • Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Kingdom ethics—how Kingdom citizens live
  • The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13): "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"
  • Parables (Matthew 13): Seven parables, ALL beginning "the kingdom of heaven is like..." including more throughout the Gospels (Matthew 18, Matthew 20, Matthew 22, Matthew 25; Luke 13, Luke 14, Luke 15, and so forth)
  • Post-Resurrection (Acts 1:3): For 40 days after rising, Jesus appeared to his disciples "speaking about the kingdom of God"

When Jesus was questioned by Pontius Pilate:

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world⁠:

to bear witness to the truth.

Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

— John 18:36-37 (ESV)

Jesus mentioned his "kingdom" 3 times during the dialogue with Pilate. "of this world" is often misunderstood.

Jesus was not saying that he was an alien from another world. "world" could also be translated as "orderly system" according to the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and HELPS Word Studies.

Jesus acknowledged that he was a king, but also made it clear their definitions of "kingdom" were different.

The Truth

Jesus was sent into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37) and to proclaim the Kingdom (Luke 4:43; Mark 1:38). This witness belongs to the same mission as his human representation and obedience and sacrifice and mediation, rather than making those purposes secondary.

The Message of Reconciliation

The Father initiates reconciliation through Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16). Christ's role as human mediator and his continuing advocacy and intercession explain how he represents people before the Father (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Paul describes the Gospel as the message of reconciliation:

All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. — 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV)

Why do we need to be reconciled with God?

Forgiveness

Humanity was created for a relationship with God, but sin entered the world and caused a separation between God and humanity (Genesis 3; Isaiah 59:2). This is not possible as long as sin separates us from God.

Therefore, forgiveness of sin is essential (Matthew 1:21; Luke 24:47; Acts 10:43; 1 John 1:9), that is why Jesus demonstrated that he had the authority to forgive sin (Mark 2:5-12).

Why do we need forgiveness?

Salvation

Without forgiveness descendants of Adam, which is all of humanity, would be judged (Isaiah 11:1-5; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-30; Acts 10:42; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and condemned to death and destruction (Romans 5:12-21; 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15) because that is the result of sin.

That is why all lost sinners (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; Colossians 2:11-15) need salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10) and that is why Jesus is still interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

God is a righteous and fair judge. He cannot bend the rules of justice to permit sin to go unpunished (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 89:14; Romans 3:5-6).

Therefore, a new blood covenant was needed (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20). Since God is Spirit (John 4:24), He had to use the blood of the Son of Man to pay the debt of our sin.

Why does God even bother to do this?

Adoption

God wants to save all of us (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)

  • Because God is patient (2 Peter 3:9)
  • Because God is merciful (Ephesians 2:4-5)

This will allow those who are saved to live forever (John 10:10, 14:6; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-13) because God wants to adopt us as his children (Romans 8:15)

Why does God want to adopt us?

Purpose

God loves us (John 3:16) and He wants to restore the relationship that was broken by sin (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19) so that He can restore our original purpose that we were created for which is to expand the Kingdom of God in partnership with Him.

That is why:

  • Jesus ministry was based on expanding the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17, 10:7; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43; 9:2-6)
  • Jesus trained disciples with the truth (Matthew 7:28-29, 28:19-20; Luke 4:22; John 7:46)
  • Jesus demonstrated love and service to his disciples
  • Jesus sent disciples to act in his authority to continue his work (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 10:1; Acts 1:8) to be witnesses to the lost

Why does the Kingdom of God need to be expanded?

Love

  • So that more people may get to know and love each other (God's creation) (John 13:34-35)
  • So that more people may get to know and love God (John 17:3)

Glory

So that this Kingdom will glorify God (John 17:1-5).

That is why it is called "The Kingdom of God".

The King

Any kingdom needs a king. Daniel prophesied that the Kingdom of God would have a human king:

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. — Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)

Jesus is not a weak suffering victim on a cross that seeks our pity. He voluntarily sacrificed himself to establish the Kingdom of God. That is why he is the only candidate worthy to be the king and that is why God resurrected and exalted him and that is why we should honor and serve him.

The Gospel is not about feeling sorry about our sins, but instead it is a call to turn from sinning to joyfully serve the king.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. — Romans 14:17-18 (ESV)

Matthew witnessed that Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy:

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

"Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" — Zechariah 9:9

— Matthew 21:4-5 (ESV)

And Matthew witnessed that Jesus said:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:18 (ESV)

Peter witnessed:

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

— Acts 2:32-36 (ESV)

Why Follow Jesus?

Evidence leads somewhere. If Jesus is who he claimed, the response isn't mere intellectual agreement but personal commitment.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. — John 10:27-28 (ESV)

It is simply not good enough to know about Jesus. We need to follow him by continuing the work that he had started:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

— Matthew 25:31-46 (ESV)

The King promised:

Reconciliation Promise

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." — John 14:6 (ESV)

Forgiveness Promise

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." — Matthew 26:27-28 (ESV)

Salvation Promise

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." — John 10:10 (ESV)

Adoption Promise

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved me. — John 17:20-23 (ESV)

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. — Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

Purpose Promise

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." — Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Love Promise

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." — John 13:34-35 (ESV)

Glory Promise

"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

...

"The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one."

— John 17:1-3,22-23 (ESV)

Next Steps

Jesus himself asked his disciples:

"Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)

The question remains.

Who is Jesus to YOU?