The Names of GodНамуна

The Messiah

Thirteen years, from kindergarten to high school graduation. Four years of undergrad. Three years of medical school. Imagine the thrill the first time someone calls you Doctor!

“Doctor” is a title that comes with a purpose. To call Jesus “Messiah” or “Christ” is to give him a title that tells us his purpose. The word “messiah” in Hebrew and the word “christos” in Greek mean the same thing: anointed one. The one chosen for a purpose.

All Jewish men took turns reading in the synagogue, whichever portion of Scripture was assigned that day. Jesus took his turn, as everyone in his hometown of Nazareth would have expected. The same verses were read on the same day of the year, so they would not have been surprised that he read Isaiah 61. What they would not have expected, what would have been very surprising, was to hear him say that the prophecy of God’s anointed one had come to fulfillment in their synagogue that day.

What was the purpose of the anointed one, the Messiah, the Christos? To proclaim good news to the poor, to free the prisoners, and to heal. As Jesus said later, “To seek and save the lost.” How would he do it? They expected the promised Messiah would lead an army and the people of Israel in a revolt against their enemies. They did not expect he would die on a cross for their sins.

But he did, and he invites us who believe to work with him in this purpose, to seek and save the lost. Or, as we say at LCBC, to introduce people to Jesus and together fully follow him. Do the unexpected today: invite someone to join you at church this week.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to fulfill the mission of seeking and saving the lost and saving me. Help me to speak to my friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues about you. Open their hearts to be willing to come to church and hear more about you. Amen.