The word Christ means anointed. In Biblical times, special people such as kings were anointed as a sign of their appointment. So Christ means someone appointed for a special purpose. Other themes show what the Bible tells us this special person will do. A selection of verses showing that Jesus is the special person referred to as the Christ (the Messiah).
At the start of his Gospel, Matthew tells us that Jesus is the Christ:
16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
The apostle Peter says that he believes that Jesus is the Christ:
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Shepherds are told that Jesus is the Christ when he is born:
11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
A Samaritan woman says that she is expecting the Messiah also called Christ. Jesus confirms that he is the Christ:
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.”
The apostle Peter says that the suffering of the Christ predicted by the prophets has happened:
18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
When Paul is on trial, as part of his defence, he says that the suffering of the Christ is part of his message:
23 how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”
These chapters have links to this theme: