The Anointed One

Christ’ means The Anointed One, from christos, the Greek translation of the original Hebrew maashiach (messiah). As applied to Jesus, it was initially a title (John 7:41 and Acts 3.20). But soon the two terms were conjoined and used interchangeably by devotees, though theologians use ‘Christ’ consciously in matters religious. The anointment itself is called chrism from chrio in Greek, meaning ‘anoint’ (It makes one think of Sanskrit kriya, also meaning ritual). In Catholic churches the chrism is made of olive oil and balsam, while Orthodox churches add wine, nuts and gum. This mixture is solemnly consecrated on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, by bishops of the western churches. The consecration ceremony of the eastern orthodox churches takes so long, that it happens only once in ten years or so. This sanctified oil is used for baptism, confirmation (for all Christians) and ordination (for priests), all of which are rites of consecration to the Church. It is not however used on the sick. The rich, scented oil is a symbol of the strength-giving grace of God like the sanctified water in Hindu ritual.

The word ‘Jesus’ itself means ‘God saves’ in Hebrew and this name was given by none other than the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation (when the angel appeared to Mary to tell her that she would bear the Son of God). The name thus identified Christ’s mission. So the extended meaning of Jesus Christ became ‘God saves through His anointed one’. What of the word ‘Lord’ for both God and Jesus, like Hindus call Krishna ‘Thakur’? The mysterious Hebrew word by which God is believed to have revealed Himself to Moses is YHWH pronounced ‘Yahweh’ (Jehovah). It translated in Greek as Kyrios, the Lord.

Why did the Jews oppose Jesus? He challenged their interpretation of the sacred Torah. His initial offence was this threat he posed to the Temple authority. The trial of Jesus was by Jewish law, to check if he was ‘an obstinate teacher who insists on his own opinion against the majority’, for two interpretations of the Torah ‘would necessarily destroy Israel’. The offence of Jesus at his trial was not anything he said to the priest of the time, but his silence, his refusal to submit his sense of divine authority to Jewish traditional authority. And so it stays with the warring People of the Book: Jew, Christian, Muslim, each upholding his own creed as the ultimate truth. But Jesus himself transcends such divisions in India as a Teacher (‘Rabboni’ Mary called him at his Resurrection). Some of our best schools, colleges and hospitals are made in Christ’s name, imparting growth and healing to mind and body. A Holy Child like Krishna, who died for others, as Guru Tegh Bahadur did later, Jesus, for us, is superhuman love.