At the heart of the Christian faith, there are names that are not mere labels, but true revelations. One of them is \u201cChrist.\u201d It is not a surname, nor an honorary title without content: it is a confession of faith, a synthesis of the entire mission of Jesus Christ, and a key to understanding who He is\u2026 and who we are called to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we will calmly, deeply, and accessibly explore this question: why is the Son of God made man also called Christ?<\/strong> And we will see how this truth, which may seem theoretical, has very concrete implications for our lives today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201cChrist\u201d comes from the Greek Christ\u00f3s<\/em>, which means \u201cAnointed One.\u201d<\/strong> It is the translation of the Hebrew term Messiah<\/em> (Mashiach<\/em>). Therefore, when we say \u201cJesus Christ,\u201d we are literally saying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJesus, the Anointed One of God\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n But what does it mean to be \u201canointed\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was a visible sign of divine election. It was not an empty symbolic gesture: it meant that God consecrated a person for a specific mission<\/strong> and granted them His grace to fulfill it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the history of Israel, three types of people were anointed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were anointed to govern the people in the name of God. For example, King David was anointed by the prophet Samuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They were consecrated to offer sacrifices and mediate between God and the people. The priest Aaron is the classic example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although not always with oil, they were spiritually \u201canointed\u201d to proclaim the Word of God. Think of Isaiah or Jeremiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the central point: Jesus Christ is not just another anointed one\u2026 He is the Anointed One par excellence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He does not merely fulfill one of these roles, but all three at once, in a full and perfect way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n He does not rule with political power, but with divine authority and sacrificial love. His kingdom is not of this world, yet it transforms the world from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy Kingdom is not of this world\u201d (Jn 18:36)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n He does not offer external sacrifices: He offers Himself.<\/strong> He is both priest and victim at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek\u201d (Heb 5:6)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n He does not merely transmit the Word of God: He is the Word made flesh.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us\u201d (Jn 1:14)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Here we enter into a profoundly theological teaching:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The anointing of Jesus Christ was not bodily, but spiritual and divine.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Unlike the ancient kings or priests, Jesus was not anointed with visible oil. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because in Him dwells the fullness of God Himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily\u201d (Col 2:9)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This means that His \u201canointing\u201d is not an external sign, but an absolute interior reality: His humanity is completely permeated by divinity. He does not need a sign: For centuries, the people of Israel awaited the Messiah. This hope runs throughout all of Scripture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The prophets announced an Anointed One who would bring salvation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me\u2026\u201d (Is 61:1)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Jesus applies these words to Himself in the synagogue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing\u201d (Lk 4:21)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n That is to say: Calling Jesus \u201cChrist\u201d is not optional. It is essential to the Christian faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To deny that Jesus is the Christ would be to deny His mission and identity. That is why Peter\u2019s confession of faith is so central:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are the Christ, the Son of the living God\u201d (Mt 16:16)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In that sentence, the whole of Christianity is summarized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This truth is not only to be studied. It is to be lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means allowing Him to govern your life: your decisions, your priorities, your values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Concrete question: He constantly intercedes for you. You are not alone before God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Application: He continues to speak to you today: in Scripture, in the Church, in your conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 Application: Here is something beautiful and often misunderstood:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through baptism, you also share in the anointing of Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a certain way, you are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world marked by confusion, relativism, and a loss of meaning, this identity is more necessary than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To say that Jesus is the Christ is not to repeat an ancient formula. It is to affirm that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ is not only a figure of the past. And the great question is not only: But rather: Perhaps today is a good moment to make Peter\u2019s confession of faith your own\u2014not only with words, but with your heart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLord, You are the Christ\u2026 And from there, begin\u2014or begin again\u2014a more conscious, deeper, and more authentic journey of faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At the heart of the Christian faith, there are names that are not mere labels, but true revelations. One of them is \u201cChrist.\u201d It is not a surname, nor an honorary title without content: it is a confession of faith, a synthesis of the entire mission of Jesus Christ, and a key to understanding who …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43,37],"tags":[1898],"class_list":["post-5941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-catechism-of-the-catholic-church","category-doctrine-and-faith","tag-christ"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5941"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5942,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5941\/revisions\/5942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/catholicus.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\n\n\n1. The meaning of \u201cChrist\u201d: the Anointed One of God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n2. Anointing in the Old Testament: kings, priests, and prophets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Kings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Priests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Prophets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Jesus Christ: the perfect and definitive Anointed One<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2726 Christ the King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\u2726 Christ the Priest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\u2726 Christ the Prophet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n4. A different anointing: not bodily, but divine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Jesus is totally consecrated because He is God made man.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is the very reality that the signs pointed to.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n5. Christ: fulfillment of all the promises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Jesus does not merely speak about the Christ\u2026 He is the awaited Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n6. Theological relevance: why is this title so important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n7. Practical application: what does it mean for you that Jesus is the Christ?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Christ is your King<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Who truly rules your life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n2. Christ is your Priest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Turn to Him in prayer. Trust in His mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n3. Christ is your Prophet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Listen to His voice. Dedicate time to the Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n8. A call for today: living as the anointed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n9. Conclusion: Christ, center of history\u2026 and of your life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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He is the living, present, and near Anointed One.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
why is He called Christ?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
what place does Christ occupy in your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpiritual closing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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the Anointed One of God,
the meaning of my life,
my King, my Priest, and my Prophet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n