They Called Them Christians

Acts 11:26b

And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Names are something that we are all familiar with. I guess it is because we all have at least one. New parents to be, often spend hours looking through books of names to try to find that perfect one for the soon to arrive. Is it really important and does it really matter about a persons name, does a name mean anything? Well if you read the Bible you will see that what a person is named has a lot to do with that person. The reason being that what a person is named is what you call them, and what you call someone has a lot to do with the way they are.

Jesus had several other names by which He was known. He was called Emmanuel in Matthew 1:23 which meant God with us. He was often called Messiah which interpreted means deliverer. Very often you will see him called Jesus Christ. Some people think that Christ is his last name, but that is not so. The notation of Christ after the name of Jesus was more of a descriptive of Him than His name. Christ comes from the Greek word Christos which means "Anointed One." Therefore the name Jesus Christ literally means Jesus the Anointed One. Jesus is the One who is anointed with the full anointing of God.

Now that gives us a new way to look at the born again followers of Jesus. The Bible says that we are to be called Christians. What is the root word of Christian? It is the same word, Christos. If that be the case, and it is, then we who are Christ’s followers also have the title or name of anointed ones.

Just think about that. You and I as believers, children of God have the privilege of being called the "Anointed ones" too. The truth is that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and anointed Him also anoints you. You have God’s power and anointing in your life at all times. You are anointed to live and serve in His power today.