The Titles of Jesus

1. The Titles of Jesus What’s in a name?

2. Rabbi • Jesus was never a professional rabbi who taught in a synagogue, but he taught with authority, and had a group of disciples who followed him • People often called him Rabbi, which means teacher • Jesus Helps us understand what God wants of us. We believe that Jesus can show us how to live life to the fullest • Jesus was a great teacher, but he did far more than teach us about God. For that reason, Rabbi doesn’t say everything about Jesus

3. Priest • Jesus was not a catholic priest, nor did he earn his living working in the temple. However, we still call him the “Great High Priest” • The role of the priest was to offer a sacrifice to God on behalf of all the people. The sacrifice showed the people’s desire to give their best to God and turn away from anything that kept them apart from God. • Jesus died because he could not stay faithful to God if he avoided death. Jesus gave his very best to God, and he did it for us. Jesus’ life and death were for us

4. Priest continued • When we call Jesus a priest, we celebrate the fact that he offered the sacrifice of his life – not for his own sake, but for the sake of all people • He restores the good relationship between God and humanity, but Jesus is much more than a priest

5. Lamb of God • Jesus not only offered a sacrifice on behalf of all the people. Jesus was (and is) the sacrifice • The temple sacrifice was usually a lamb. When a lamb was offered in the Temple, the people believed that peace was restored between God and God’s people who had sinned • We call Jesus the “Lamb of God” because he is the sacrifice that restores peace between God and us. We remember everything that Jesus gave us even though we did not deserve it

6. Prophet • Prophets were preachers and poets who spoke the word of God to God’s people • Prophets would attack those who were not being faithful to the law of God. Since the prophets critiqued them, many people hated them. But still those would realize that what the prophets were saying was true and kept the prophets’ teachings as part of the Sacred Scripture • Many people thought Jesus was a prophet, and gave him that title of honour • Jesus was a prophet, and we know that he spoke the words of God

7. Messiah-Christ • The Jewish people believed that God would send them a great leader. They called him “The Anointed One” (meaning Messiah) because they used to anoint their leaders with oil as a sign of God’s favour and of the rulers authority • Today we anoint with oil at baptism, confirmation • The Messiah was expected to be descendant of King David, who would make Israel a free kingdom • When Jesus proclaimed the coming of God’s kingdom with such power, many people hoped he was the messiah

8. Messiah-Christ continued • Jesus didn’t like to be called the Messiah (or Christ) because people who called him that would expect him to act like an earthly king • He later accepted the title of Messiah • After his resurrection, it became such a popular title for him that now we use the word “Christ” almost as if it was his last name • We now know that our “king” is not one who shows off or forces people to obey, but one who serves others and, by example, teaches them to love

9. Son of David • The Jewish people believed that the Messiah would come from the house/family of David. • When believers call Jesus “Son of David” they are showing that they believe in God’s faithfulness • God promised a son of David who would end their misery and be their saviour; Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise

10. Jesus of Nazarene • Family names in Jesus’ day were not set the way ours are now. His last name probably changed during his lifetime • As he grew up, he would be called “Jesus, son of Joseph” because most children were named this way • After Joseph died, Jesus might have been named by the work he did • And after he left his hometown, Jesus would be named for the place he came from. This was the name the soldiers put up when he was on the cross: Jesus of Nazareth

11. Jesus of Nazarene continued • Jesus’ first name also has special meaning. In Hebrew, it is “Joshua”. It is an ordinary name, but it means “God Saves” so even Jesus’ name tells about what he has done for us • On the cross, I N R I, a Latin inscription, stands for IesusNazarenus Rex Iudaerorum meaning Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews

12. Saviour • We refer to Jesus as our saviour because we believe that his death and resurrection have saved us from the power of death. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, death has no permanent power • Without Jesus, people could not go beyond death into eternal life with God. As well, death would have kept humans apart from God forever • Sin, which keeps us apart from God, would have won out • However, because of Jesus, death is only a transition point from one way of knowing God to another

13. Son of Man • Jesus called himself Son of Man when he spoke about the sufferings and death that he expected to go through • This title stresses that he was a human person like us who realized he was going to die • The Son of Man is connected with the final judgment of all people. When this title is used in the New Testament, we are reminded that it is Jesus who will judge us