Saints Lightand in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord
Jesus is the Savior, the promised Messiah, the eternal Son of God, and the Lord who is God Himself. Each title in this line tells us who He is and what He means for us.
This short line holds four titles, and each one is a whole lesson about who Jesus is.
Jesus is His personal name. In Hebrew it means God saves. The angel told Joseph to give Him this name, for He shall save His people from their sins (CCC 430). The name itself says what He came to do. That is why Christians have always treated the name of Jesus with special reverence.
Christ is not a surname. It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah, which means anointed (CCC 436). In Israel, kings, priests and sometimes prophets were anointed with oil for their mission. Jesus is the one anointed by the Holy Spirit to be priest, prophet and king all at once. To call Him Christ is to say He is the one Israel was waiting for.
His only Son goes further than any title in the Old Testament. Angels, Israel and its kings could be called sons of God in a loose sense, as God's adopted ones (CCC 441). Jesus is Son in a unique and eternal way: begotten, not made, sharing the Father's own divine nature (CCC 454). We become children of God by adoption through Him. He is the Son by nature.
Our Lord is a claim to divinity. When the Jewish Scriptures were translated into Greek, the holy name of God was rendered Kyrios, Lord. When the first Christians called Jesus Lord, they were giving Him the name of God (CCC 446-449). It also means something practical: if He is Lord, He has a rightful claim on my time, my money, my body and my plans.
Some say Jesus never claimed to be God, and that His followers later made Him into one. But the Gospels show Him forgiving sins, speaking with God's own authority, and accepting Thomas's words, my Lord and my God. St Paul, writing within about twenty five years of the Resurrection, already says every knee should bow at the name of Jesus. The Church did not invent His divinity later. She confessed it from the start (CCC 455).
Key points
- Jesus means God saves, which names His mission.
- Christ means Messiah, the one anointed as priest, prophet and king.
- He is the only Son of the Father by nature; we become children of God by adoption.
- Calling Jesus Lord confesses that He is God and that He has a claim on our lives.
The Word of God
And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 430-435
- CCC 436-440
- CCC 441-445
- CCC 446-451
- CCC 454-455
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
From the tradition
Q. Who is the Redeemer? A. Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of mankind.
Live it this week
Each day this week, pray the name of Jesus slowly at least ten times, for example while walking or driving. Then ask yourself one honest question: what part of my life have I not yet let Him be Lord of?
Check yourself: three questions
1. What does the name Jesus mean?
- Anointed one
- God saves
- Son of David
- Prince of peace
Show the answer
God saves. In Hebrew, Jesus means God saves (CCC 430).
2. What is the meaning of the title Christ?
- It is Jesus' family surname
- It means the Son of Mary
- It means anointed, translating the Hebrew Messiah
- It means a teacher of the law
Show the answer
It means anointed, translating the Hebrew Messiah. Christ comes from the Greek translation of Messiah, meaning anointed (CCC 436).
3. How is Jesus God's Son differently from the way we are God's children?
- There is no difference at all
- He was adopted earlier than we were
- He became God's Son only at His baptism
- He is Son by nature and eternally; we are children by adoption
Show the answer
He is Son by nature and eternally; we are children by adoption. Jesus is the only Son of the Father in a unique and eternal relationship, while we are adopted through Him (CCC 441-445, 454).
Words to know
- Messiah
- Hebrew for anointed one; in Greek, Christ.
- Kyrios
- Greek for Lord, used to translate the holy name of God in the Greek Old Testament.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The group should understand the meaning of the names and titles Jesus, Christ, only Son and Lord, and take to heart what it means to let Jesus be Lord of their whole life.
Opener. Ask: "Do you have a nickname or a title, like Mom, Coach or Doctor? What does it say about you?" Then explain that each title in this line of the Creed says something about who Jesus is.
Discussion questions
- The name Jesus means God saves (Matthew 1:21). Why do you think God chose a name that is a mission? [His name tells us what He came to do.]
- Christ is not a last name. What does it mean, and why does it matter? [Messiah, the anointed priest, prophet and king. Connect to our own anointing at Baptism.]
- Jesus is the only Son by nature; we are children of God by adoption. What is the difference, and what is the gift? [He is Son eternally; we are brought into the family by grace.]
- Calling Jesus Lord means He has a claim on our lives. What part of life is hardest to hand over to Him? [Invite honest, personal answers. Money, time, relationships. No judging.]
Activity. Read Philippians 2:5-11 aloud together. Then each person takes a sheet with four titles (Jesus, Christ, Son, Lord) and writes one sentence of prayer to Him under each (8 minutes). Invite a few people to read their favorite line aloud.
Closing prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You are our Savior and our Lord. We give You our lives again tonight, including the parts we have kept back. Help us trust You, follow You and speak Your name with love. Amen.
Timing. Opening prayer 5 min, opener 5 min, read the lesson together 15 min, discussion 20 min, activity 12 min, closing 3 min.
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