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Journalism of Courage
Christ8217; 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 8216;Christ8217; consciously in matters religious. The anointment itself is called chrism from chrio in Greek, meaning 8216;anoint8217; 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 8216;Jesus8217; itself means 8216;God saves8217; 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 Christ8217;s mission. So the extended meaning of Jesus Christ became 8216;God saves through His anointed one8217;. What of the word 8216;Lord8217; for both God and Jesus, like Hindus call Krishna 8216;Thakur8217;? The mysterious Hebrew word by which God is believed to have revealed Himself to Moses is YHWH pronounced 8216;Yahweh8217; Jehovah. It translated in Greek as Kyrios, the Lord.
