Wit Cul

• Christ


  Means "anointed one" or "chosen one", the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word "Messiah"
• Jesus is the Lord's human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:31)
• Anointing


  In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God's service
• Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such fashion
• Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God's choosing
• The literal meaning of "anointed" refers to the application of oil, but it can also refer to one's consecration by God, even if literal oil is not used (Hebrews 1:9)
• There are hundreds of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that refer to a coming Messiah who would deliver His people
• Ancient Israel thought their Messiah would come with military might to deliver them from decades of captivity to earthly kings and pagan nations
• The New Testament reveals a much better deliverance provided by Jesus the Messiah—a deliverance from the power and penalty of sin (Luke 4:18; Romans 6:23)
• Jesus was anointed with oil on two separate occasions by two different women (Matthew 26:6–7; Luke 7:37–38), but the most significant anointing came by way of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38)
• Jesus' title of "Christ"

  Means He is God's Anointed One, the One who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, the Chosen Savior who came to rescue sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and the King of kings who is coming back again to set up His Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:9)
• Other titles that suggest the same meaning: Jesus as

  • King of the Jews
  • Son of David (as foretold by the Prophets)
  • Suffering Messiah
• King of the Jews

  The Messiah will redeem the Israelites from the political yoke or oppression of the Romans (as Israel during the time of Christ was a subject of the Roman Empire)
• Son of David (as foretold by the Prophets)


  As a descendant of David, a very powerful King of Israel, He will lead Israel into war against the Romans and establish His Kingdom in Palestine and Jerusalem will be His throne
• Suffering Messiah


  "Messianic Secret" (when He asked Peter to keep his declaration of Jesus as the "Christ" a secret): Jesus' notion of redemption is not political but spiritual
• Son of Man


  Focuses on the humanity of Jesus, relates to His future suffering, death and resurrection, a title traced back to the prophecy of Daniel, a clearest profession of divine transcendence, symbolic of Christ's dual nature: human and divine
• Son of God


  "Sonship" implies origin: inheritance of nature, traces the "Divine Nature" of Jesus, focuses on the intimate relationship with the Father, "Lord of the Sabbath": He is above the law for He is the Law-giver
• According to St. Paul, Jesus is

  • Savior: stress the role of Jesus as the Messiah
  • Lord of Creation: as the "Son of God" He is the ruler of the universe
  • Hope of Mankind: Jesus will come again and gather all men to Himself
  • Life in Christ: Union with Christ through the celebration of the Sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist
  • Salvation through Christ
• The Gospel of St. John


  • Christ is Man
  • He is the "Word-of-God-Made-Man"
  • He got weary at the well in Samaria; cried at the tomb of Lazarus; got thirsty; became troubled
  • Son of Man and Son of God (Dual Nature)
  • He suffered as man but glorified as God
  • One with the Father
  • Miracles are signs that manifest His dignity and reveal the presence of God; active in the universe and breaking through laws He Himself had made