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Jesus is the Christ

September 25, 2023 By Ryan Higginbottom

The Anointing of David – Veronese 1555, Creative Commons

All authors employ names and titles to convey meaning in their work. The biblical writers are no exception.

I’m nearing the end of a project examining the use of titles and names for Jesus in the Gospels. My first article laid out my methodology and looked at the top 10 titles of Jesus in the Gospels. I have written about the titles of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I will wrap up this project by looking closely at three titles of Jesus that were used frequently in the Gospels; today we’ll examine what it means for Jesus to be called “Christ.”

Not a Last Name

“Christ” is used so often to refer to Jesus in the modern church that it may be his title with which we’re most familiar. We use and hear the phrase “Jesus Christ” so frequently that we may think “Christ” is Jesus’s surname. (I’m fairly certain I thought this when I was young!)

“Christ” is the transliteration of the Greek word Christos, which means “the anointed one” or “the chosen one” (source). This is closely tied to the Hebrew word “Messiah,” and in the Gospel of John we see those terms identified (John 1:41, 4:25).

There are scenes in the Gospels where it is clear that the Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah—the Christ—to appear (John 10:24). It seems there was much debate over the lineage of the Christ and where he would originate (John 7:40–44).

The Old Testament Background

Anointing happens in the Old Testament when specific people are set apart for specific tasks. Aaron and his sons were anointed to be priests (Exodus 30:30). Isaiah and Elisha were both anointed to be prophets (Isaiah 61:1, 1 Kings 19:16). And both Saul and David were anointed to be kings over Israel (1 Samuel 10:1, 16:13).

In the Old Testament, God gave many promises to Israel of a Savior to come. The expectation of this coming Redeemer, and the understanding of the need for this person to be sent and designated by God for a special purpose, produced the anticipation for The Anointed One. This notion of Messiah was carried into the New Testament.

Usage in the Gospels

Matthew and Mark both open their Gospels by referring to Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1). Luke writes that an angel appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born, telling them of a “Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). John uses “Christ” not only as a title near the beginning of his Gospel but also when disclosing the purpose of his work (John 1:17, 20:31). All four Gospel writers are eager to introduce Jesus as the Messiah.

Further, Peter’s confession of Jesus—his response to the question, “But who do you say that I am?”—rests on this title. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (See Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:29, and Luke 9:20.) John also records Jesus referring to himself as “Christ” toward the beginning of his high priestly prayer, (John 17:3).

We also read of the connection between Jesus and the Messianic figure of the Old Testament. In Luke 4:16–21, Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1–2 and told those who were listening, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This Old Testament passage describes a prophet “anointed” by God and sent with his Spirit. And while it is not in a Gospel, Peter and John identify Jesus as the Anointed One of Psalm 2 in Acts 4:26.

Conclusion

In the first century, the Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah. They knew that the Anointed One they sought would be sent and prepared by God for great things.

The title “Christ” is used for Jesus 35 times in the Gospels. These authors use this title to connect Jesus to all of the promises of God he fulfilled.

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Can You Focus on the Bible Too Much?

September 22, 2023 By Peter Krol

In a recent conversation, a respectable gentleman accused me of coming dangerously close to “bibliolatry.” Bibliolatry means “worshiping the book,” and the term usually refers to the practice of revering the Bible too highly. According to Wikipedia (that never-ending fount of contemporary insight), the term may characterize “either extreme devotion to the Bible or the doctrine of biblical inerrancy.”

I’ve heard such comments before, particularly from young people who want to follow God but who don’t want to study the Bible. The thinking goes like this: “The Bible is good, but you shouldn’t focus on it too much.”

Now the argument isn’t always sophomoric. Some time ago, the evangelical philosopher J.P. Moreland delivered a paper to the Evangelical Theological Society, arguing against “the idea that the Bible is the sole source of knowledge of God, morality, and a host of related important items.” He’s concerned with Christians who take the Bible to be “the sole source of authority for faith and practice. Applied to inerrancy, the notion is that the Bible is the sole source of such knowledge and authority.” Moreland clearly believes the Bible to be both inerrant and final in its authority. But, he says, if Christians consider it to be the only authority for faith and practice—that is, for the Christian life—they are “over-committed” to it.

So is it possible (and unhelpful) to focus too much on the Bible?

The Easy Answer

Of course it’s possible.

Jesus often clashed with other teachers who focused too much on the Bible. In one noteworthy example, he staked the following claim:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
John 5:39-40

In one sense, Jesus hoped they’d focus more on him than on the Scriptures.

The Difficult Answer

But in another sense, Jesus clearly drew attention to himself by drawing more attention to the Scriptures. Notice the immediately preceding verses:

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
John 5:37-38

Jesus accused the Bible-focusers of not hearing God’s voice. They didn’t see his form. He had already borne witness to the Messiah in his word, but that word hadn’t landed in their hearts. They read the Bible. They studied it and memorized it. But they didn’t believe in Jesus, its principal subject.

Jesus goes on to say, “I do not receive glory from people…How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God” (John 5:41-44)? They loved the Bible because it gave them glory. They could win at Bible Trivia. People spoke highly of their knowledge and authority in spiritual matters. They had earned titles of honor and respect, and, as a result, the general public revered them

Jesus wanted them to seek glory, just not their own. They should seek the glory that comes from the only God. That is, they should seek Jesus, the one who came from God (John 5:37) and revealed his glory (John 1:14). And how would they do this? Not by abandoning the Scriptures but by reading them more—more clearly, more frequently, more passionately. “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me” (John 5:46).

In other words, the solution for “over-commitment” to the Bible is not to reduce your commitment to the Bible. The solution is to take your commitment to the Bible in a different direction: toward Jesus.

In that sense, it’s not possible to focus too much on the Bible. Not unless it’s possible to focus too much on Jesus.

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The Sluggard in Every One of Us

September 20, 2023 By Peter Krol

Scott Hubbard wants you to know four things about the Bible’s portrait of a sluggard:

‘A little’ adds up.
Neglect grows weeds.
Our desires often deceive us.
Hard work flows from the heart.

Hubbard does a great job correlating the teaching of Proverbs on the character of the sluggard. In the process, Hubbard models terrific head and heart application.

Check it out!

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The Treasure: Introducing Children to the Faith

September 15, 2023 By Peter Krol

Marty Machowski has developed quite a body of educational and devotional works for children. I’m quite a fan of The Gospel Story for Kids curriculum, which my church uses, along with The Gospel Story Bible, which covers a wide variety of Bible stories beautifully.

So I was eager to see his new work taking children through the books of Luke and Acts: The Treasure: Ancient Story Ever New of Jesus and His Church. I’m grateful to New Growth Press for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

What It Is

The Treasure is largely a devotional work, but not in the sense of providing a lesson plan or list of discussion questions. It’s more of a storybook Bible with devotional entries providing something to reflect on in light of Scripture readings.

Interspersed throughout are 12 chapters of an original story. A pair of young siblings growing up on a Greek isle discover some old journals reflecting on the teachings of Luke and Acts.

The physical book holds the same high production quality I’ve come to expect from New Growth Press’s children’s works. It’s larger size is on par with The Gospel Story Bible and The Radical Book for Kids. The thick semi-glossy paper gives the book quite a bit of heft, making it delightful to hold and read aloud. The cover and binding are strong and sturdy.

What It Does Well

This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the Christian faith through the lens of Luke and Acts. For that reason, it’s not exhaustive or doctrinally thorough. But it does what a storybook Bible does best: It tells the “ancient story ever new.”

The devotions in these pages walk straight through Luke and Acts, covering topics as they arise in the text. Each devotion has a Scripture reading, followed by a one-page reflection on something from the passage, always connecting it to the story of Christ and to his children today.

For example, in one entry, we’re told to read Luke 5:17-26 (Jesus healing a paralytic after forgiving his sins). Then Machowski’s comments talk about how someone could prove their physical strength by lifting a 300-pound barbell in front of their friends. Then he describes how Jesus did something even more amazing by healing the lame man to prove his ability to forgive sins.

The main divisions of The Treasure follow the literary divisions of Luke and Acts. So the contours of the Scripture drive the ebbs and flows of Machowski’s reflections.

The original story about the Greek children was my favorite part of the book, as Machowski tells a charming tale of their search for hidden treasure. Though the story’s climax comes across a little contrived—the character development to that point did not quite support it—the story remains engaging to the end.

What Could Be Better

I chose to review this book because I’m always interested in children’s resources that claim to help children study the Bible. From the back cover: “In The Treasure, Marty Machowski weaves a Bible study of the books of Luke and Acts with a fictional story.” And I’ve really loved Machowski’s prior devotional works. I was eager to see what he did here with Luke and Acts.

And I want to reiterate what I wrote above: This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the Christian faith through the lens of Luke and Acts.

But with that said, I must be honest that Machowski does not quite succeed at the promise of providing a Bible study of Luke and Acts. I would describe the book as a series of devotional, theological reflections on some things inspired by the text of Luke and Acts. It does not actually provide a Bible study of Luke and Acts.

For example, the entry on Acts 15:36-16:5 reflects on the nature of conflict and how nobody is perfect. But it fails to explain the role played by the separation of Paul and Barnabas in Luke’s narrative agenda.

For another example, the entry on Luke 3:1-20 spends nearly as much time discussing John’s account of the Baptist’s ministry as the account at hand in Luke. This pattern is common: Machowski quickly bounces from Luke or Acts out to numerous cross-references that speak further on the theological topic under consideration. All to the detriment of providing and understanding of Luke’s own message.

Conclusion

I am delighted to have and to have read The Treasure. As a child’s introduction to Christianity through the lens of Luke and Acts, it succeeds marvelously. But as a child’s Bible study of Luke and Acts, it is less than could be hoped for. I’m happy to recommend it as a primer on the story and doctrines of Jesus Christ. But if you’re looking for a way to strengthen your children’s grasp of the books of Luke and Acts, you may need to supplement what you find here.

You can find it Amazon, Westminster, or New Growth.

Disclaimer: As you go searching for treasure, you should know that external links are affiliate links. You will provide some small treasure to this blog when you click them. We are grateful for your support.

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Salted With Fire

September 13, 2023 By Peter Krol

“Everyone will be salted with fire,” says Jesus in Mark 9:49. But what does that mean?

Alistair Begg makes skillful use of the literary context (the argument of the larger passage), biblical context (Old Testament background), and cultural context (practices contemporary to Jesus and his disciples) to unravel this mysterious saying.

It’s clear that Jesus deals here with weighty truths. And it’s against the backdrop of verse 48 (in which He describes hell as a place where the “worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”) that His puzzling teaching on salt appears. With the costliness of discipleship and the picture of fire fixed in His disciples’ minds, Jesus asserts, “Everyone will be salted with fire.” How should we understand this peculiar phrase?

Check it out!

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The Titles of Jesus in John

September 11, 2023 By Ryan Higginbottom

All authors employ names and titles to convey meaning in their work. The biblical writers are no exception.

I’m in the middle of a project examining the use of titles and names for Jesus in the Gospels. My first article laid out my methodology and looked at the top 10 titles of Jesus in the Gospels. I have written about the titles of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Today we turn to the Gospel of John.

Top 5 Titles

John uses 129 titles for Jesus, which is 29.1% of all such titles in the Gospels. Since John contains 23.3% of the verses in the Gospels, we might say John contains more titles than expected.

Here are the top 5 titles in John.

Lord (36 times)
Son (18 times)
Son of Man (11 times)
Son of God (9 times)
Christ (8 times)

The title “Son” is used here more than in any other Gospel, making up 18/30 uses in all of the Gospels. Fourteen of these times, Jesus claims this title for himself, and the other four times are by the Gospel author.

In general, the titles in John tend to be clustered. For example, while “Lord” appears most frequently as a title, 32 of these 36 occurrences happen in just five chapters (chapters 11, 13, 14, 20, and 21). Something similar is true for the title “Son”—15/18 of these uses happen in chapters 3, 5, and 17.

Titles Used by John

Of all the Gospel authors, John uses the most titles for Jesus. He wrote titles for Jesus 17 times, calling him “Lord” five times, “Son” four times, and “Word” four times, among others.

Unlike in Luke, none of these titles dominates the others.

Titles and John’s Purpose

As my co-blogger Peter Krol pointed out in his article about the feeding of the 5000 in John, this fourth Gospel leaves no doubts about its purpose.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

All that John wrote was to convince his readers and hearers that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. How do the titles that John used reveal or support this?

John used both the titles “Christ” (8 times) and “Son of God” (9 times). However, the title “Son” (used 18 times) is also relevant here. In context, most of the time “Son” is used it is shorthand for “Son of God.” The title is put in context with “Father” when that title clearly refers to God. Here are some examples.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16–17)
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:35–36)
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:19–24)

John walked with Jesus and wrote his words down, and Jesus was not ambiguous about his mission or his power. Anyone reading John’s Gospel honestly will see Jesus presented as the Son of God and Savior of the world.

John’s use of titles in his Gospel doesn’t just support his main point. John used the titles of Jesus as a tool to communicate his main point.

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Two Opponents of Heart Application

September 8, 2023 By Peter Krol

If my experience is symptomatic of a broader reality, and heart application is the most difficult of the three spheres, then it behooves us to understand potential hindrances. And the New Testament leads us to expect two primary opponents.

anonymous boxer punching in face of young ethnic sportsman — Photo by Julia Larson on Pexels.com

Legalism

The first opponent of heart application is legalism. Legalism is when we add to God’s word rules and behaviors he does not require of us. Even when such things used to be required under the old covenant, we are still “adding” them to God’s current ethical expectations (Gal 6:15-16).

Legalism was an issue when the Galatian trouble-makers taught that converts had to be circumcised and become Jews before they could become Christians. Legalism was an issue when Pharisees erected voluminous regulations for Sabbath-keeping (Luke 13:10-17) and ritual purity (Mark 7:1-5). Legalism was an issue when the Colossians and Ephesians were attracted to ascetic practices that removed them from tangible pleasures and blessings (Col 2:20-23, 1 Tim 4:1-5).

How does legalism oppose application to the heart? By producing the sort of person who does the right things without becoming the right person who believes the gospel. Legalism does not require any change on the inside, such that you become the kind of person the Lord wants you to be.

…this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men
Isaiah 29:13

License

The second opponent of heart application is license. License is when we subtract from God’s word and minimize or ignore kingdom ethics. Even when the motivating factor is God’s grace to needy sinners, we are still subtracting from God’s word if we suppose grace does anything but train us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11-14).

License was an issue when Philippian citizens worshiped their belly and set their minds on earthly things (Phil 3:18-21). License was an issue when Ephesian believers were tempted to live like unbelievers, allowing hardness of heart to darken their understanding and live for what they could see, hear, feel, and touch (Eph 4:17-20). License was an issue when teachers would arise who employed the doctrine of grace to promote “anything goes” and thereby lead people away from loyalty to Christ (Jude 3-4).

How does license oppose application to the heart? By producing the sort of person who may even believe the right things but without becoming the right person who does the right things. License does not require any change on the inside, such that you become the kind of person the Lord wants you to be.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

The Commonality

Both opponents of heart application—legalism and license—prevent people from becoming the right people on the inside. Both are concerned with outward behavior. Both are harsh masters, demanding far too much of their victims.

The best tactics for resisting both opponents is to properly grasp the main points of Scripture, and then to allow those truths to shape you from the inside out. To make you into not only a person who does the right things but also a person who loves and desires the right things.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Hebrews 12:15-16

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How to Read the Sermon on the Plain

September 6, 2023 By Peter Krol

When studying a passage in the gospels, we must handle parallel passages with care. We’ll make better use of the parallels if we don’t merely harmonize but illuminate.

For example, let’s take Luke’s Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6. Much time could be spent on the question of harmonization: Is this the same sermon as Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, or not? How do we harmonize these two extensive teachings of Jesus?

But that question of harmonization is not nearly as important as the following:

What is Luke’s message in Luke 6?
What is Matthew’s message in Matthew 5-7?

Those questions may not have the same answer!

To help you with this example, let me recommend an article called “The Sermon on the Plain: What It Is & How It Differs from the Sermon on the Mount.” I wrote this article to analyze some of the similarities and differences between the two sermons. But ultimately, I wanted to get to these four suggestions:

Don’t be distracted by the Mount/Plain question
Read the entire sermon as a sermon
Read the sermon in the context of Luke’s Gospel
Read, read, and read again

Check it out!

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The Most Difficult Kind of Bible Application

September 1, 2023 By Peter Krol

Of the three spheres of application, I believe the most difficult one for most people is the heart sphere. For that reason, my series of posts on leading small groups has one specifically on how to encourage heart-oriented application. Most people tend to find head and hands application more natural.

Why do you think that is?

medical stethoscope with red paper heart on white surface — Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Unless they have an extraordinary aversion to theological debate, most people have no resistance to head application. What we must believe about God, the world, ourselves, sin, and redemption—these things are glorious truths, and clarity on such things from the Scripture is precious.

And as I wrote last week, we tend to have such an affinity for “doing” (hands application) that the concept of application itself is often reduced to little more than what we do in light of the Bible’s teachings. The challenge is to help folks understand that application involves more than doing.

But when it comes to heart application—what we love, value and cherish; what sort of people we are to become—those who don’t balk at such personal intrusion can sometimes feel like ignorant babes.

How do we do it? How do we not simply guilt people into obedience, but motivate and inspire them to want to obey God? How do we become the sort of people who turn away from sin not only because it’s our duty but also because we are personally repulsed by the idea of committing it? How do we find in Christ a greater and more secure treasure than anything we can see, smell, taste, or touch here and now?

The thing is: Heart application requires a grasp of both human nature and the Lord’s process for rebooting that nature in Christ. That takes hard work. If you want your Bible application to be quick and dirty, the sphere of the heart will nearly always become a neglected stepchild.

Hebrews 4:14-16 provides an interesting study in the spheres of application:

“Let us hold fast our confession” – that’s head application.
“Let us draw near to the throne of grace” – that’s hands application.
“…with confidence…” – there’s the heart of the matter.

Does the confession of Christ as great high priest lead you not only to approach the Lord, but to do so as a person with full confidence in his mercy and grace? Is your first instinct to turn to the Lord in prayer when you need help?

Is heart application difficult for you? If so, why do you think that is?

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3 Fruits of Engaged Bible Reading

August 30, 2023 By Peter Krol

Because Karrie Hahn believes the Bible is precious, she wants you to read it for the right reasons. She gives three quite compelling ones.

Awe
Transformation
Endurance

Sometimes application means simply letting the Bible shape us in these areas. For example:

An encounter with the God of the universe can’t help but produce awe and wonder in those to whom He reveals Himself. He is glorious and majestic, unlike anyone or anything else:

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty . . . Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!” (Ps. 93:1, 4)

His greatness is unsearchable, and He is glorious, splendid, and majestic (see Ps. 145:3, 5). Holy Scripture is how we come to better know the God who has called us to Himself.

Check it out!

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