What Does Christ Mean?
1. The Word Christ in the Bible
The Bible uses the title “Christ” hundreds of times, but many readers never pause to ask what it means. The term Christ is not Jesus’ last name, but a title. It comes from the Greek word christos, which means “anointed one.” This is the direct translation of the Hebrew word māšîaḥ (Messiah).
In the Old Testament, anointing with oil marked someone as set apart by God for a special task. Kings were anointed (1 Samuel 16:13), priests were anointed (Exodus 28:41), and sometimes prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). Over time, the hope for the “Anointed One” narrowed into expectation of a future king from David’s line who would rule in righteousness.
When the New Testament calls Jesus “the Christ,” it is declaring Him to be that promised figure. To ask, What does Christ mean? is to ask how the Bible presents Jesus as the fulfillment of these promises.
2. The Old Testament Roots of Messiah
The meaning of Christ is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Several strands of expectation come together:
The Anointed King – God promised David, “I will raise up your offspring after you… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13). This covenant gave rise to the hope of a coming son of David.
The Spirit-Anointed Ruler – Isaiah foresaw a child upon whose shoulders the government would rest, called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6–7).
The Just and Righteous King – Jeremiah spoke of a righteous Branch from David’s line: “This is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah 23:5–6).
The Suffering Servant – Isaiah also described one who would be despised and rejected, bearing the sins of many (Isaiah 53:3–6).
All of these expectations were gathered up into the idea of the Messiah—the one anointed by God to rule, deliver, and save His people.
3. The New Testament Proclamation of Christ
When the New Testament writers call Jesus “the Christ,” they are proclaiming Him as this long-awaited Messiah. The Gospels highlight moments where Jesus’ identity as Christ is acknowledged:
Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
The Samaritan woman’s recognition: “I know that Messiah is coming… Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (John 4:25–26).
The angel’s announcement: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
The apostles continued this proclamation:
Peter declared at Pentecost, “God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).
Paul wrote that in Christ, “all the promises of God find their Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The meaning of Christ, then, is not abstract. It is bound up with the conviction that Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s hope for the anointed King.
4. The Surprise of Christ’s Mission
Many in Israel expected the Christ to overthrow Rome and establish a political kingdom by force. But Jesus fulfilled the role in an unexpected way:
He came humbly, born in a manger (Luke 2:7).
He preached good news to the poor (Luke 4:18).
He entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, not a warhorse (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5).
He suffered and was crucified as a criminal (Mark 15:25–26).
Rather than conquering earthly powers, Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan through His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:15). This redefined what it means to be the Christ.
5. The Christ as King of God’s Kingdom
Ultimately, to ask What does Christ mean? is to arrive at this conclusion: Christ means King of God’s Kingdom.
Several biblical themes make this clear:
Jesus as David’s Son – The genealogy in Matthew 1 connects Jesus to David, showing Him as rightful heir to the throne.
Jesus as Risen Lord – His resurrection was God’s declaration that He is “Son of God in power” (Romans 1:4).
Jesus as Reigning King – He sits at the right hand of God, far above all rulers and authorities (Ephesians 1:20–21).
Jesus as Returning Judge – Revelation 19 depicts Him as the rider on the white horse, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The Christ is not merely a religious figure but the ruler of God’s Kingdom, already inaugurated through His death and resurrection, awaiting final consummation when He returns.
6. The Centrality of Christ to the Gospel
Understanding Christ as King shapes the Gospel itself. The good news is not only that Jesus forgives sins, but that He reigns as Lord. This has several implications:
For salvation: Because Christ is King, He has authority to forgive sins and grant eternal life (Mark 2:10).
For worship: Christians confess “Jesus is Lord” as the central declaration of faith (Romans 10:9).
For mission: The Gospel of the Kingdom is to be proclaimed to all nations until Christ returns (Matthew 24:14).
For hope: The reign of Christ assures believers that the last days belong not to chaos but to His rule (Hebrews 1:1–2).
The bigger Gospel is that Jesus the Christ brings not only personal salvation but the restoration of creation under God’s reign.
Conclusion
So, What does Christ mean? The title “Christ” comes from the Greek christos, translating the Hebrew māšîaḥ—“anointed one.” In the Old Testament, it referred to kings, priests, and prophets, but it came to focus especially on the promised king from David’s line. The New Testament proclaims that Jesus is this Christ. Yet He fulfills the role not through force but through sacrifice, not by temporary political power but by eternal kingship.
Christ means King of God’s Kingdom. To confess Jesus as the Christ is to recognize Him as the anointed ruler, the Son of God who reigns now and will bring the fullness of God’s Kingdom in the end.
Bible Verses Related to Christ
2 Samuel 7:12–13 – Promise of a son of David with an eternal throne.
Isaiah 9:6–7 – The child who will reign on David’s throne.
Jeremiah 23:5–6 – The righteous Branch from David’s line.
Isaiah 53:5 – The suffering servant who bears sins.
Matthew 16:16 – Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ.
John 4:26 – Jesus declares, “I who speak to you am He.”
Luke 2:11 – “A Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Acts 2:36 – “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.”
Romans 1:4 – Declared Son of God in power by the resurrection.
Revelation 19:16 – “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
