Rev.1: 1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John”

 

Now, what is this Book all about going by this simple introduction in verse 1? It is the “Revelation of Jesus Christ”. So it’s not the Revelation about some other things but of a person like we said earlier on. But now, let’s get it right, It is not the revelation of “Jesus” — neither is it the revelation of “Christ.” But, and very important please! It is the revelation of JESUS CHRIST! It is a revelation of a compound name if you will. Although you may not be able to separate both Jesus and Christ ultimately forever, but here is a revelation and manifestation of JESUS distinct from that of CHRIST.

 

The name Jesus simply means Saviour. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus (Yashua, Yahweh is Salvation), for He shall save His people from their sins” (Mat. 1:21). The word says!. So we found that the name Jesus reveals His ‘Saviourship’.

 

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom say ye that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Mat. 16:16-17).

 

So we have two distinct expression here, one is Jesus as announced by the angel Gabriel to Mary, and the other Christ as revealed to Peter by the Father.

 

Note this therefore, that Christ is not Jesus’ last name! Neither is Christ an English word — it’s a Greek word. And that word Christ means “Anointed”. Commonly we think and teach of the word anointed in a spiritual context, but the word in and of itself isn’t spiritual. Anointed simply means to pour over, smear on and rub into. Just as one rubs body cream on himself after taking a shower. Infact we read of Jacob anointed stones in Bethel where he slept,. Gen.28:18.It was completely natural.

 

So when we read, “is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”: Jas 5:14. What is here recommended was to be done as a natural means of restoring health, which, while they used prayer and supplication to God, they were not to neglect. Oil in Judea was celebrated for its curative qualities; so that they don’t embark on a journey without carrying oil with them, with which they anointed their bodies, healed their wounds, bruises, just like we can observe with the case of the wounded Samaritan (Luke 10:34).

 

Oil was and in frequently used in the east as a means of cure in very dangerous diseases; Like in Egypt, it is often used in the cure of the plague. While in Europe, it is said that, it has been tried with great success in the cure of dropsy.

 

It is a fact that, pure olive oil is excellent for recent wounds and bruises. This is why the Jews used it as a natural remedy, so when we read of the disciples of Jesus.. “ And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them” Mr 6:13.” It was a common practice of the Jews to heal the sick this way not necessarily exerting any miraculous power. But here was a combination of both natural and spiritual means to heal the sick, in other words, where the natural means fail, they then apply the spiritual as they cast out the devils. So just like James’ it is faith and prayer that healed the sick, “ verse, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,…” when the oil, the natural means failed.

Essentially then, in the Christian Jewish practice, the anointing oil prepares the ground for the miraculous. Therefore there was nothing particularly special about the generic word ‘anoint’.

 

But as it relates to Jesus, Christ is the transliteration of the Greek word “Christos,” which simply means “one anointed with holy oil”. The Hebrew “Mashiach,” from which we get our word Messiah, has the same meaning as the Greek word “Christos,” which is “the anointed”.

 

So in essence, His Old Testament name, The Messiah, and His New Testament name, The Christ, and His English name, The Anointed One, contain and displays before us the whole heavenly history of His election from everlasting, His predestination, His incarnation, His calling, His consecration, and His complete equipment, in every way, for all the position and ministry and glory and dominion He now fills as the Son of God.

 

This is why we read “ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. It is the ” Anointed, not just Anoint”. Notice the difference.

 

So what are we saying; this Book is a revelation of “the Saviour the Anointed one”. Not the devil, Armageddon, end times etc, events, but that of a person’s work and walk from eternity past into glory and of such that are His.

 

To be continued…

 

© 2016 – Dr. David O. Ogaga