Doctrines

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Chapter One

The Christ

   Why a chapter entitled "the Christ", and not Jesus Christ? This chapter is to examine whether or not Jesus is indeed the Christ, and just what it means to be the Christ. 

    To do that we must go all the way back before his death, earthly life, and even before his birth, and go all the way back to the first prophecy concerning the Christ, to see if Jesus' life and words match up to what the scriptures say Christ would do and say. 

  * The word Christ is an English transliteration of the Greek word Christos.

The Christ

   The words "the Christ" appear nineteen times in the Scriptures and we learn some very important things from them, most importantly is that the Christ is also the Son of God, which was commonly known by all:

Peter said he was the Christ, the Son of the living God

Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus said he was the Christ

Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

The Christ was also the Son of God

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

   We will deal with the subject of Jesus being the Son of God in chapter five.

Andrew called him the Messias

John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

The Samaritans knew Jesus was the Christ, who was also the Saviour of the world

John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

John believed that by believing on the Christ one would have eternal life.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 Belief that Jesus was the Christ would make a person born of God

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

   The word Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach where we get the Anglicized word Messiah from (the anointed one). We also find the word Messias with a Greek transliteration to it in the book of John:

Messias

John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

   Prophets, Preists and Kings were all anointed for service and Jesus was all three according to scriptures.  What exactly does it mean to be the anointed one? It means to be set apart. The word Messiah appears only twice in the scriptures, and both times are in two consecutive verses:

Messiah

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

   From these verses we learn some very important things about the Messiah (the Christ). We learn that he must be anointed. The Hebrew would for anoint in verse twenty-four is the root word from which we get the word Messiah itself. 

   We also learn that the anointed one is also called the most Holy. Notice the capital "H" on Holy in the verse. In Hebrew the way that this appears in the verse is the holy Holy (the kodesh, Kodesh).

   It is similar to describing the holy place of the Temple, and the Holy of holies. Using the word twice in Hebrew brought attention to the word so you would understand the special significance of what was being talked about. 

   To anoint the most Holy was to anoint God. The Messiah (the anointed one) was most Holy. The Messiah was also identified as coming at a specific time in history.

   After sixty-nine prophetic weeks (483 years) the commandment to build and restore Jerusalem the Messiah would be cut off, but not for himself. The decree is recorded in the book of Ezra and happened somewhere between 450 and 456 BC depending on who you listen to.

   From 450 BC to Christ birth was 450 years, then if you add the years of Jesus' life until he was cut off not for himself:  which is 33 years, then you come up to 33 AD. 

   The Hebrew word week is Sheva, which is translated in English as Seven. So it is speaking of sixty-nine sevens or sixty-nine weeks of seven years each as identified for us in the story of Jacob serving Laban for an additional week of seven years to have Rachel as his wife:

Genesis 29:18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

   What famous individual was cut off, not for himself around 33 AD? There is only one person that was cut off at that time that claimed to be the Messiah, and others claimed he was after his birth and do to this day and that is Jesus.

Chapter Two

Christ's Anointing

   Since the Prophet Daniel said that a time was coming to anoint the most Holy, then the Christ (the Messiah) would have to be anointed. Was Jesus ever anointed? Yes, numerous times, but his first anointing was unlike anyone else's ever:

The Prophecy of the Anointing of the Christ

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

   This according to Jesus' own words was fulfilled partially when he was reading these very scriptures in the Synagoge in his adopted home town of Nazareth:

Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 

   Jesus was anointed at his baptism and we will look at that in more depth in a minute, but the Spirit descend in the form of a dove and lighted upon him. In Isaiah 11:1-3 it said that the Spirit of LORD shall rest upon him.

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

   The actual physical anointing of Christ took place at his baptism, but he fulfilled the first half of what Isaiah 60:1 & 2 said by preaching the good news unto the poor, healing the brokenhearted, preaching deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, setting at liberty them that were bruised, and by preaching the acceptable year of the Lord to them.

   Let's take a look at a priest's anointing and compare it with Jesus' anointing with the Holy Ghost at his baptism: 

The Priests Anointing

Exodus 29:1 And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, 2 And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them. 3 And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams. 4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water. 5 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod: 6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

   The priesthood of Aaron had many restrictions which could not be violated. You had to be from the tribe of Aaron, you had to be without blemish, you had to be thirty years of age and be washed with clean water and anointed with oil.

Jesus' Baptism

Matthew 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

   First, the preist had to be washed with water, and then he was to be anointed as we read in Exodus 29. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, a descendant of Aaron, who was the son of a Levitical Priest named Zacharias, making John a Levite as well.

   Jesus was then anointed when the Spirit of the LORD lighted upon him.  Israel all had to be baptized with water and then they received the holy Spirit at Pentecost so that they could be priests in the kingdom that John and Jesus were preaching as being at hand if Israel would only repent. Sadly, they did not,

  They killed their King, and rejected their Kingdom, which is now on hold while its King is in exile in heaven seated on the right hand of the Father waiting until his enemies to be made his footstool. Psalm 110:1

Jesus' anointing with the Holy Ghost

Acts 10:37 That word, I say,ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

   To be anointed meant to be set apart to do something special. Prophets, Priests and Kings all were to be anointed with before beginning their public ministry service.

   The difference was that all three of them were anointed with oil while Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost to be Israel's high priest:

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

   We today in the dispensation of Grace are anointed with the Holy Ghost the moment we believe and are baptized by the Holy Ghost into the body of Christ:

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

   Jesus was anointed before his burial by Mary out of whom he had cast seven devils. He will be anointed as King when he returns and puts down his enemies. 

   So it is clear that Jesus was anointed as a priest, and we will now examine the claim of him as being "that prophet", as mentioned by Moses, that Israel was looking for.

Chapter Three

That Prophet

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

   They were so afraid of God when he came and spoke at Horeb that they said let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, so God told them they wouldn't hear that way again, but the would hear from him when he sent that prophet which was from their brethren (a fellow Jew) who would be like Moses in that he spoke God's words unto the people.

Art thou that prophet?

John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

 Who did the people say that Jesus was?

John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Peter's Testimony of who Jesus was 

Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
 

Chapter Four

The King

The Wisemen said Jesus was the King of the Jews

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Nathanael said he was the King of Israel

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Jewish believers hailed him as the King of Israel

John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Chapter Five

The Son of the Living God

Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the

Satan wanted to know if Jesus was the Son of God

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The Devils found out that Jesus was the Son of God

Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The High Priest knew Christ would be the Son of God

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

People heard him say he was the Son of God

Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

A Centurion was convinced Jesus was the Son of God

Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark believed Jesus was the Son of God

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Gabriel said Jesus shall be called the Son of God

Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 

John said he is the Son of God

John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

Nathanael said he was the Son of God

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

   It is very clear from Nathanael's words and those of many others that to be the Christ, once must also be the Son of God, and the King of Israel.

Jesus said he was the Son of God

John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Philip beleived Jesus was the Son of God

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Paul preached that Jesus was the Son of God

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

His Virgin Conception, and Incarnation

     The Bible teaches that the Jesus Christ is Immanuel: God with us. He is the Son of God by the Holy Spirit coming upon a virgin, named Mary, and overshadowing her by the power of the Highest (God’s Holy Spirit). He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, his goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

Philippians 2:7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 8 And, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

   Jesus Christ took on him the nature of man, and was both fully man, and as we also just learned above, he was fully God as well. Not 50% Human and 50% God.



Chapter Six 

The Name of Jesus

   Jesus is an English (Anglicized) version of the Greek translation of the name Joshua in Hebrew. It means God is salvation.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

   Jesus is never called Jesus by any of his disciples in the gospels, he is referred to as Jesus, by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as they identify in their gospels who it is they are speaking about as doing something, or saying something.

   Jesus is always addressed as Lord, Master, Messias, Rabbi, Rabboni, Teacher, the Son of the living God, the king of Israel, or as the Christ, never as just Jesus when talking directly to him.

   Only one time in the gospels was the name Jesus is ever used by any of his disciples in his presence, and it was as they walked unknowingly along with him on the road to Emmaus:

Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

   And even here he was not being called by his name personally. They did not know who they were talking to, and they were simply using his name to identify who he was to him.

   The name of Jesus is used directed to Jesus himself by a devil however: 

Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

   The name Jesus is mentioned by the "multitudes" to identify him to those asking who it was as he entered into Jerusalem, but they addressed him personally as the Son of David as he was approaching the city, not as Jesus.

Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

   The name Jesus is mentioned to Peter by a damsel in Matthew 26:69, and again by a maid two verses later as each tell Peter that they each saw him with Jesus, but they did not speak to Jesus personally and call him by his name.

Matthew 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Matthew 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 

   Pilate uses his name when addressing the crowd at his trial in Matthew 27:17 & 22 and his name is used on a sign that was nailed to his cross along with the title King of the Jews, but he never calls him Jesus personally when talking to him.

Matthew 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

   An angel mentions his name at the tomb in Matthew 28:5 when talking to the women who were there, but again, they did not speak to him personally and call him by his name.  

Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

   Blind Bartimaeus is the only human being to say the name of Jesus to Jesus himself in all of Scripture and immediately the disciples told him to hold his peace (which literally means to shut your mouth) Mark 10:47.

Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

   He replies the second time leaving off his name and identifying him by one of his titles, thou Son of David, and then Jesus heals him.  Do you see a pattern developing here? You should!

   Ten lepers use the name Jesus in Luke 17:13 along with the title Master and Jesus heals them of their leprosy. This is a rare exception, and notice the nine Jewish ex-lepers never return to give him thanks because they were not his disciples.

Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

   They believed he could heal them, but they would not follow him.  The one who did return was a Samaritan.

   Jesus himself utters his own name as he addresses his Father in John 17:3 in his prayer and interestingly enough he adds the title Christ when he refers to his name.

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

   We love the name of Jesus, as we should, but how much do we call him Lord, Master etc..?

   That is the example that God lays out for us in his word and we should reverence the name as well. Jews are good at reverencing the name of Jehovah and out of respect they don't even say it. The same was true of the name Jesus. The disciples never called Jesus, Jesus to his face out of reverence. 

   Today Christians and non-Christians use his name irreverently all the time. If you are going to use the name of Jesus, you are to follow the example laid out for us in scripture. It is perfectly fine to say, "Jesus said this, or Jesus did that, or Jesus is my Saviour" but to use his name when you stub your toe is to use it in vain.

    Remember the disciples, in all 625 times the name of Jesus is mentioned never one time was he called him by his name, but they always referred to him by his titles.

   How far we have gotten away from that? If we were to use his titles to the lost world out there, we will be told to shut up today because they don't want to hear about who Jesus is. Try it and see and then keep doing it.

   He is never called the Lord Jesus Christ in the four gospels, but he is called that eight times in the book of Acts three of which Paul is speaking, and Paul, in his epistles uses the title of the Lord Jesus Christ, 68 times for a total of 71 times. 

   Paul also uses the name of Jesus 225 times in his epistles, but just over 95% of those times he uses one of his titles in association with the name of Jesus. Paul reverenced the Lord Jesus Christ and so should we.

The End