Jesus

Jesus Christ. [Gr. Iesous (a transliteration of the Aramaic Yeshüa' from the Heb. Yehôshüa', "Joshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation"), Christos (a translation of the Heb. Mashîach, "Messiah," meaning "anointed," or "anointed one").] The Saviour of the world, the Messiah. In New Testament times Yeshüa', "Jesus," was a common given name for Jewish boys. It expressed the parents' faith in God and in His promise of One who would bring salvation to Israel.

The angel Gabriel instructed Joseph to call Mary's first—born by this name, the reason given being, "He shall save his people from their sins" (Mt 1:21). "Christ" was not a personal name by which people knew Him while on earth, but a title used to identify Him as the One in whom the Messianic promises and prophecies of the Old Testament met their fulfillment. To those who believed in Him as sent of God He was the Christ, that is, the Messiah, the One "anointed" by God to be the Saviour of the world. When used together, as in Mt 1:18 16:20 Mk 1:1, the two names Jesus and Christ constitute a confession of faith that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Mary, is indeed the Christ, the Messiah (Mt 1:1 Acts 2:38).

He was also to be known by the title Emmanuel, "God with us," in recognition of His deity and virgin birth (Mt 1:23 cf. Is 7:14 9:6, 7). Christ's usual designation for Himself was "the Son of man" (Mk 2:10 etc.), an expression never used by others when speaking of or to Him. By this title, which seems to have Messianic implications, Jesus emphasized His humanity, doubtless thinking of Himself as the promised Seed of Gen 3:15 22:18 cf. Gal 3:16.

Jesus seldom used the title "Son of God," which stresses deity, of Himself (Jn 9:35—37, KJV 10:36), though He often referred to God as His Father (Mt 16:17 etc.). However, the Father called Him His Son (Lk 3:22 9:35), and John the Baptist (Jn 1:34) and the Twelve (Mt 14:33 16:16), "Son of God." It was Jesus' claim that God was His Father in a special sense, and later His admission that He was the Son of God, that the Jews seized upon as warranting His condemnation and death (Lk 22:70, 71).

Gabriel explained that Jesus was to be called the Son of God by virtue of His birth to Mary by the power of the Holy Ghost (Lk 1:35 cf. Heb 1:5), and Paul declared that Jesus' resurrection from the dead designated Him "Son of God" in power (Rom 1:4, RSV). His disciples frequently addressed Him as "Master" (Mk 4:38 9:38 etc.), and eventually, in recognition of His deity, as "Lord" (Jn 14:5, 8 20:28). The term "son of David" was a popular Messianic designation used by rulers and people alike (Mt 12:23 22:42 Mk 12:35 etc.) as an expression of hope for deliverance from political oppression.