The Anointed Son

Jesus is the anointed Son of God whose life and ministry are filled with the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

The activity of the Spirit dominates the life, words, and deeds of Christ. He is “Jesus, the one called Christ,” the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. The angel informed Joseph that Mary carried a child “conceived of the Holy Spirit,” indicating that something more than just a miraculous birth was about to unfold.

The Unexpected Messiah

It was only when he died that the Roman centurion in charge of the execution recognized that Jesus was the Son of God.

Everyone in the Gospel of Mark is incapable of recognizing who Jesus is, except for John the Baptist, Peter (momentarily), and the Roman centurion at his execution, and Peter’s moment of insight proved fleeting. Even the Baptist began to question the identity of Christ when he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas.

Messiah and King

Following his Resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9.

Only Jesus is the Messiah and King of Israel, only he is God’s Anointed. There will never be another, and all competing claimants to this designation are impostors and liars. This same Jesus reigns over the Earth today. His Kingdom is a present reality, and his reign will be consummated when he returns – (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Revelation 1:4-6).

The Logos

The Prologue of John’s Gospel presents key themes of the Book, including the declaration that Jesus is the Logos, the “Word become flesh.” Life and Light are revealed in him to penitent men and women. He is the true “Tabernacle” where God’s “Glory” resides, not the tent in the wilderness or the Temple building in Jerusalem. The Son of God is the true and full expression of God.

King and Servant

Jesus is the King from the House of David and the Servant of the Lord who endures death to save his people.

Jesus is identified in the Gospel of Matthew as the Son of David and the Servant of the Lord. In his ministry and death, Christ demonstrates what it means to be the Messiah of Israel, and he does so by accepting the role of the suffering Servant of the Lord.

The Son of Man

In the three synoptic gospels, the term “Son of Man” is the self-designation found most often on the lips of Jesus. It is derived from Daniel’s vision of the one “like a Son of Man” who received the “dominion and kingdom” from the “Ancient of Days.” According to Jesus, “All the tribes of the Earth” will mourn when “they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

The Kingdom Herald

Following his baptism, the Spirit “drove Jesus into the wilderness… for forty days and nights.” Like Moses on Sinai, the Messiah of Israel was alone in the desert where he was tested by the Devil and molded by God. He was tempted like Israel, only he overcame every challenge and emerged victorious and “full of the Holy Spirit.” Only then did he proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, starting in the villages of Galilee.

Rend the Heavens!

The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus - Son, Messiah, and Servant – Mark 1:9-11.

Jesus first appears in the Gospel of Mark when John baptizes him in the Jordan River. The narrative identifies him with his hometown, Nazareth, a village of no consequence. Jesus is the Son and the Servant of the Lord, and the Messiah who does not conform to popular expectations.

The Forerunner

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah, the herald of the Kingdom of God and the one who baptizes in the Spirit – Mark 1:4-8.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He was the Voice in the Wilderness, and the Elijah who was to come and restore all things before the Day of the Lord - (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:14).

The Gospel Begins

Redemption and God's Kingdom arrived in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, starting with his baptism by John – Mark 1:1-3.

The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration that combines passages from the Old Testament to provide the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist, and to set the stage for Christ’s mission. Mark begins with a note of fulfillment.

The Son of David

Jesus is the Son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Servant of the Lord.

The Gospel of Matthew declares that Jesus is the Son of David, and in his ministry and sacrificial death, this same Jesus demonstrated exactly what it means to be the Messiah of Israel and the king of the nations, for he was also the Servant of the Lord who suffers for his people.

The Salvation of the Lord

'Jesus’ means “Yahweh saves.” In the man of Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Abraham has arrived.

The child carried by Mary was “begotten of the Holy Spirit,” and Joseph was instructed to name this child ‘Jesus’: “Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” The name announced by the angel pointed to the saving act of God that was about to unfold in history – (Matthew 1:20-23).