People are used to people having first, middle, and last names, so it is easy for us to assume that Christ is Jesus’ last name.

The name Jesus was not new when the Christ child was born. Many people were called Jesus at that time. Jesus had brothers and sisters, but they did not have the last name Christ, nor did Mary and Joseph. The name Christ can only fit one person in the entire human race. The name embodies the definition of the true Messiah.

I’ve been studying Colossians with a group of women, and we came across a passage of scripture that speaks to this this very well. See Colossians 1:15-19. This passage helps to point out some key parts of this definition.

The first part of verse 15 tells us that in Christ we see the visible image of God who is invisible. We can’t see God because he is like a Spirit or like the wind. We know the wind is there because we feel it and see what it does. But people could see Jesus when he was on the earth. They could hear him talk, see him perform miracles and show love to people, hear him forgive sins and so much more. Wouldn’t you like to peek through a window and see him now? God gave us such a window in the Bible. We can learn about what Jesus said and did. Through learning about Jesus we see what God is like.

The second part of verse 15 and verse 16 tell us that Christ is supreme – above and beyond everything in the heavens and on earth, above all the things we can see and even the spirit world that is invisible. Not only is he above them, he created them. He was around before the earth and the heavens were created. He created them. (That’s another reason why Jesus birth as a baby is so awesome. After he made such a wonderful universe, he chose to give up everything and to become a tiny helpless baby so he could also be one of us. Wow!)

Verse 17 says that Christ existed before anything else, and that he holds everything together in creation. He keeps the planets going around the sun, all the stars in the right place… He keeps our bodies together and growing and keeps the true laws of science in working order so we can understand the earth better.

The first part of Verse 18 tells us that Christ is the head of the church, and that we the church are his body. It is very important that the churches make every effort to thoroughly understand and know Jesus as the Christ so he can lead us the way the true church should go.

Verse 18 continues to repeat that Christ was the beginning of everything, and that he is supreme over all – even all who rise from the dead. He is the first of everything that is and ever was and ever will be. He is first of all and above all.

Verse 19 adds that all the fullness of God lives in Christ. It pleased God to put it there. All of the wonderful things about God are also true about Jesus the Christ.

We might be wise to choose to say Jesus the Christ instead of saying Jesus Christ to help get that concept across to others including out children. The name Christ is so much more than just a last name.

Janice D. Green
author of The Creation and The First Christmas