28. Christ: The Anointed.

The crux (decisive or most important point) of the gospel is the truth that Jesus, who is the Christ (Greek: Chrīstós means “anointed one”, Hebrew Mašíaḥ or Messiah means “one who is anointed” ), was Anointed to :

1. A-tone for our sins: The word “Atone” in English means to “make amends or reparation” but the Hebrew word kaphar actually means “to cover over” which implies that his blood has covered our sins! ‘He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.’ – (1 John 2:2) He has become the scapegoat ( a goat sent into the wilderness after the Jewish chief priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it – Lev. 16; figuratively a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency ( being convenient and practical though improper). ‘We all like sheep have gone astray … and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all’ – (Isaiah 53:6) though being innocent. ‘But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him …’ He atoned for our sins that we might become righteous.

2. B-ear our curse: Curse (a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something) was the catastrophic fallout of sin when God cursed Adam and Eve for violating his command and as a result all mankind reeled (lose one’s balance and stagger) from the effects of it! But ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”‘ – (Galatians 3:13) He was thought of to be an accursed man because of the sufferings he endured but he really was not! ‘He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not.’ – (Isaiah 53:3) He bore our curse so that we might be blessed!

3. C-arry our infirmities: Sickness and disease were as a result of the curse and men longed for a Saviour who could rescue them from this vicious cycle of sin – curse – infirmities – death! ‘Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted … and by his wounds we are healed.’ – (Isaiah 53:4-6) Since forgiveness of sin could be achieved with just the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22), what was the need for the breaking of his body, if not for our healing! He was not only Anointed to bear the weight of the ‘sin of the world’ (John 1:29) but also to endure the ‘breaking of his body’ (1 Corinthians 11:24) ‘His apperance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness! – (Isaiah 52:14) He was severely flogged and the agony of that breaking was prophetically uttered by the psalmist in such unforgettable language! “Plowmen have plowed my back and made the furrows long.” – (Psalm 129:3)

This is the “ABC” of the gospel or the foundation on which the new testament doctrines are based. Jesus the “Anointed One” took away our sin that we might receive his righteousness, took away our curses that we might receive his blessings; took away our sickness and are declared healed. Amen.