Adam's podcast

Messiah is not an unfamiliar word to us today. We might hear of someone having a messiah complex: a state of mind in which the person believes he/she is, or is destined to become, a savior.

Many of our superhero movies today possess subtitle, or not so subtitle, Messiah imagery.

This concept of a Messiah/Savior that is prevalent in the popular culture today comes directly from the Bible.

Messiah is the English spelling of the Hebrew word mashach – which literally means to smear, pour, or anoint. In the OT, formal use of the word mashach was in the ritual anointing with oil of persons or objects being set apart for special service – such as for the worship of God. So one who had been anointed and set apart – was a maw-shee'-akh – or a Messiah – an anointed one.

The Hebrew term Messiah is translated in the New Testament by the Greek word Christos – literally meaning “the smeared [or anointed] one.” This Greek word Christos is where we get our English word Christ.

Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ.

But what does this mean? And more importantly, what does this mean for us today?