“Pilate wrote a notice and had it placed on the cross:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS
Lots of the Judeans read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was close to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek”
(John 19:19-20 The New Testament for Everyone).
For over ten years, I had the honor of teaching Christian theology to college and university students. Every semester I would ask my Theology 101 students the same question: Was Jesus a Christian? After much class discussion, I would offer the following answer: Jesus was not a Christian because Jesus is the Christ.
The name ‘Jesus’ means “God Saves.” The title ‘Christ’ means “The Anointed One” (Messiah). The etymology of the name ‘Jesus’ moves from the Hebrew Yeshua, to the Greek Iesous, to the Latin Jesus. The etymology of the title ‘Christ’ moves from the Hebrew Mashiah, to the Greek Christos, to the Latin Christus.
Jesus was born a Jew from his Jewish mother Mary (Luke 2:4-7). After eight days, he was circumcised and called by the name Jesus, which is the name the angel had given him before he was conceived in Mary’s womb (Luke 2:21). And according to the law of Moses, Jesus was presented to the Lord in the Temple at Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-24).
Jesus lived as a Jew. He continued journeying to the Temple as an adult for the major Jewish feasts. Crowds began to follow Jesus because of the message he preached and the miracles he performed. “Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.’ Then he said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Peter answered, ‘The Christ of God’” (Luke 9:18-20 ESV).
Jesus died a Jew. “And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’” (Luke 23:33-38 ESV).
Therefore, Christian theology teaches us that Jesus the Jew is Jesus the Christ.
~ Boethius ~