We all know that Jesus Christ came as the Messiah and Lord of all creation. It rolls off the tongue. We've been saying it since Sunday School. But do we actually know what any of these titles we so frequently bestow upon Jesus mean? What do they reveal about the second member of the Trinity?
The titles used in the New Testament to describe Jesus reveal aspects of his character, nature and purpose, and are a powerful tool in discovering more about him.
Son of God
Of all the titles in the New Testament used to describe Jesus, this is probably the first to spring to mind. It affirms his identity as God's son, the second member of the Trinity. It is a title that reveals Jesus' divinity.
Use of this title is not unique to Jesus in the New Testament. The phrase is also used to refer to Israel (Matthew 2:15) and to mankind generally (Luke 2:38).
This doesn't meant that Jesus wasn't divine. Despite the phrase having been common parlance for Godly men – suggesting a special relationship with God, rather than a divine nature – when used in reference to Jesus, the meaning is transformed.
There are verses in which "the phrase 'Son of God' refers to Jesus as the heavenly, eternal Son who is equal to God himself (see Matthew 11:25-30; 17:5; 1 Corinthians 15:28; Hebrews 1:1-3, 5, 8)," according to theologian Wayne Grudem.
Son of Man
Just as his title Son of God points to Jesus' divinity, the title Son of Man indicates his humanity. It is often how Jesus referred to himself and is most popular in the earliest account of his life, recorded in Mark's Gospel. It was a regular phrase in the culture, often serving as an indefinite pronoun (someone) or as a way of talking about yourself.
As ever, with Jesus, there is a little more to it than this. The title is also an allusion to an apocalyptic passage in Daniel 7:13-14, referring to the Son of Man descending "with the clouds of heaven" who was given "everlasting dominion". The allusion is clearest in Mark 14:61-2, during Jesus' trial with the Sanhedrin. When asked by the High Priest whether he is the Christ, Jesus replies: "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
The title refers simultaneously to his humanity and his divinity.
Son of David
Not only is he the Son of God and the Son of Man, but Jesus' lineage is also traced back to King David. The title is not used loads in the Gospels (just 17 times), but his name is mentioned 56 times. The title both highlights his ancestry and also his deserved Kingship. Both the blind man who is healed (Matthew 9:27) and the Canaanite woman whose daughter was exorcised (Matthew 15:22) call Jesus the Son of David, pointing to his healing power. David was the rightful King of Israel, just as Jesus, his descendent, is the rightful Messiah.
Messiah/Christ
We're back on more familiar territory with Messiah and Christ, some even thinking Christ is Jesus' last name. In fact, Paul does refer to Jesus simply as Christ, as if it were a proper name, in his letters. The title Christ comes from the Greek Kristos, which means "anointed one", and is itself a translation from the Hebrew mashiakh, from which we derive the word Messiah.
English lesson over. In the Jewish context, where there was great messianic expectation, Jesus being identified at this long awaited Jewish Messiah gave him great authority. It affirms the Jewishness of Jesus. Although he was not what they were expecting, Jesus came as the Messiah to the Jews.
Lord
Jesus Christ is Lord. We all know it, but what does it mean? The Greek Kyrios means God, Lord or master. The aramaic mari meant something similar to Rabbi, however when translated to Kyrios, the phrase brings a greater meaning. Mari refers to Jesus' relationship with his disciples, and Kyrios points to his lordship over the world. Paul instills the title with soteriological value: it says in Romans 10:9 that if you confess and believe that Jesus is Lord you will be saved. Jesus is seen to be Lord over the whole Earth, and therefore has authority to save everyone that confesses and believes in him.
Jesus is revealed to be a truly Jewish Messiah, both human and divine, the rightful King, whose Lordship extends over all the Earth through the titles given to him. So much of his nature is accessible through the way that people referred to him.
