Sambodhi 1989 Vol 16

Author(s): Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 69

60
I Jesus is the personal, Christ is the official name of Messiah. It is the equivalent of the Old Testament Mashiach (from mashach to anoint), and thus means "the anointed one." Kings and priests were regularly anointed during the old dispensation. The king was called "the anointed of Jehovah."9 Only a single instance of the anointing of a prophet is recorded, 10 but there are probably references to it." The oil used in anointing these officers Symbolized the spirit of God, 12 and the anointing represented the transfer of the Spirit to be consecrated person.13 The anointing was a visible sign of (a) an appointment to office; (b) the establishment of a sacred relationship and the consequent sacrosanctness of the person anointed;14 and (c) a communication of the Spirit to the anointed one.15
The Old Testament refers to the anointing of the Lord, and the New Testament also refers to it.17 Formerly references to it were also found in Psalms and proverbs, 18 but to-day Hebraists assert that the word nasak, used in these passages means “to set up " rather than "to anoint." But even so the word points to the reality of the first thing symbolized in the anointing,19 Christ was set up or appointed to His offices from eternity, but historically his anointing took place when he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 20 and when he received the Holy Spirit, especially at the time of his baptism.21 It served to quality him for his great task. The name 'Christ' was first applied to the Lord as a common noun with the article, but gradually developed into a proper noun, and was used without the aricle.22
Teachings of Jesus :
Jesus left nothing written. For some years after his death, his disciples believed that his return as judge andt he consummation of this age were imminent.
In the words of Dr. Radhakrishnan "Jesus" religion was one of love and sympathy, tolerance and inwarduess.. He did not profess to teach a new religion but only defended spiritul life.. He learned and taught in the synagogues of the Jews":23 He observes "Christianity is a syncretistic faith, a blend of various earlier creeds. The Jews, the Greek and the Roman as well as the races of the Mediterranean basis have contributed to it, with the result that, in spite of its anxiety for system, this is lacking. Its ideas about God, to take one example, vary between a loving father, a severe judge, a detective officer, a hard school master and the head of the clerical profession."24