When we call Jesus the Messiah, we are using a title that carries centuries of hope, longing, and divine promise. The word Messiah comes from the Hebrew “Mashiach,” meaning “the Anointed One.” In Greek, it is translated as “Christos,” which gives us the name Christ. To say Jesus Christ is not just to say His name and surname—it is to confess our faith that He is the long-awaited Savior sent by God.
From the earliest days of Israel’s history, God promised that He would send a deliverer—someone who would restore His people and bring justice, peace, and salvation. The prophets spoke of this coming King from the line of David, one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord would rest. Isaiah foretold, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1). The people of Israel waited for centuries for this promised Anointed One.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled these prophecies in ways that many did not expect. He was not crowned with gold but with thorns. He did not rule by force, but by love and mercy. In the synagogue at Nazareth, He read the very words of Isaiah and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). In that moment, He declared Himself to be the Messiah—not the kind of Messiah who would conquer armies, but the One who would conquer sin and death itself.
To believe that Jesus is the Messiah means to see in Him the fulfillment of every promise of God. He is the Anointed Priest who offers Himself as the perfect sacrifice. He is the Anointed Prophet who reveals the heart of the Father. He is the Anointed King who reigns not from a throne of power, but from the Cross of love. His resurrection confirmed that His kingdom is not of this world—it is eternal.
For us today, calling Jesus the Messiah is not only a matter of doctrine; it is an act of faith. It means we believe that in Him, God’s salvation has come near. Every time we say “Jesus Christ,” we proclaim that God has kept His promise, that love has triumphed, and that the Savior of the world still reigns.
May we live each day in the peace of the Anointed One, trusting that the same Messiah who came to redeem us continues to walk beside us with mercy and grace.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
