I.
Jesus
430
Jesus means in Hebrew: "God saves." At the annunciation, the angel
Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his
identity and his mission.18 (Lk 1:31.) Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in
Jesus his eternal Son made man, "will save his people from their
sins".19 (Mt 1:21; cf. ⇒ 2:7.) in Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on
behalf of men.
431
In the history of salvation, God was not content to deliver Israel "out of
the house of bondage"20 (Dt 5:6. )by bringing them out of Egypt. He also saves them
from their sin. Because sin is always an offense against God, only he can
forgive it.21 (Ps 51:4, ⇒ 12.) For this reason, Israel, becoming more and more aware of the
universality of sin, will no longer be able to seek salvation except by
invoking the name of the Redeemer God.22 (Ps 79:9. )
432
The name "Jesus" signifies that the very name of God is present in
the person of his Son made man for the universal and definitive redemption
from sins. It is the divine name that alone brings salvation, and henceforth
all can invoke his name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his
Incarnation,23 (Jn 3:18; ⇒ Acts 2:21; ⇒ 5:41; ⇒ 3 ⇒ Jn 7; ⇒ Rom 10:6-13.) so that "there is no other name under heaven given among
men by which we must be saved."24
433
The name of the Saviour God was invoked only once in the year by the high priest
in atonement for the sins of Israel after he had sprinkled the mercy seat in
the Holy of Holies with the sacrificial blood. the mercy seat was the place of
God's presence.25 (Ex 25:22; ⇒ Lev 16:2,15-16; ⇒ Num 7:89; ⇒ Sir 50:20; ⇒ Heb 9:5,7.) When St. Paul speaks of Jesus whom "God put forward as
an expiation by his blood", he means that in Christ's humanity "God
was in Christ reconciling the world to himself."26
434
Jesus' Resurrection glorifies the name of the Saviour God, for from that time
on it is the name of Jesus that fully manifests the supreme power of the
"name which is above every name".27 ( Phil 2:9-10; cf. ⇒ Jn 12:28.) The evil spirits fear his name;
in his name, his disciples perform miracles, for the Father grants all they ask
in this name.28
435
The name of Jesus is at the heart of Christian prayer. All liturgical prayers
conclude with the words "through our Lord Jesus Christ". the Hail
Mary reaches its high point in the words "blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus." the Eastern prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, says:
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Many
Christians, such as St. Joan of Arc, have died with the one word
"Jesus" on their lips.
II.
Christ
436
The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew
Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to Jesus
only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that
"Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel, those consecrated to God for
a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings,
for priests and, in rare instances, for prophets.29 (Ex 29:7; ⇒ Lev 8:12; 1 Sam 9:16; 10:1; 16:1, 12-13; ⇒ I Kings 1:39; ⇒ 19:16.) This had to be the case all
the more so for the Messiah whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom
definitively. 30 (Ps 2:2; ⇒ Acts 4:26-27. ) It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit of
the Lord at once as king and priest, and also as prophet.31 ( Is 11:2; ⇒ 61:1; ⇒ Zech 4:14; ⇒ 6:13; ⇒ Lk 4:16-21.) Jesus fulfilled the
messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet, and king.
437
To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah
promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."32 (Lk 2:11. ) From the beginning, he was "the
one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world", conceived as
"holy" in Mary's virginal womb.33 ( Jn 10:36; cf. ⇒ Lk 1:35.) God called Joseph to "take
Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy
Spirit", so that Jesus, "who is called Christ", should be born
of Joseph's spouse into the messianic lineage of David.34 (Mt 1:20; cf. ⇒ 1:16; ⇒ Rom 1:1; ⇒ 2 Tim 2:8; ⇒ Rev 22:16. )
438
Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission, "for the name
'Christ' implies 'he who anointed', 'he who was anointed' and 'the very
anointing with which he was anointed'. the one who anointed is the Father, the
one who was anointed is the Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the
anointing.'"35 (St. Irenaeus, Adv. heresy. 3,18,3: PG 7/1, 934.) His eternal messianic consecration was revealed during the
time of his earthly life at the moment of his baptism by John, when "God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power",
"that he might be revealed to Israel"36 (Acts 10:38; ⇒ Jn 1:31.) as its Messiah. His works and
words will manifest him as "the Holy One of God".37
439
Many Jews and even certain Gentiles who shared their hope recognized in Jesus
the fundamental attributes of the messianic "Son of David", promised
by God to Israel.38 ( Mt 2:2; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30; 21:9.15.) Jesus accepted his rightful title of Messiah, though with
some reserve because it was understood by some of his contemporaries in too
human a sense, as essentially political.39
440
Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the
Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of Man.40 (Mt 16:16-23. ) He unveiled
the authentic content of his messianic kingship both in the transcendent
identity of the Son of Man "who came down from heaven", and in his
redemptive mission as the suffering Servant: "The Son of Man came not to
be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."41 (Jn 3:13; ⇒ Mt 20:28; cf. ⇒ Jn 6:62; ⇒ Dan 7:13; ⇒ Is 53:10-12.) Hence the true meaning of his kingship is revealed only when he is raised high
on the cross.42 (Jn 19:19-22; ⇒ Lk 23:39-43. ) Only after his Resurrection will Peter be able to proclaim
Jesus' messianic kingship to the People of God: "Let all the house of
Israel, therefore, knows assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified." 43 ( Acts 2:36.)
III.
The Only Son of God
441
In the Old Testament, "son of God" is a title given to the angels,
the Chosen People, the children of Israel, and their kings.44 (Dt 14:1; (LXX) 32:8; ⇒ Job 1:6; Ex 4:22; ⇒ Hos 2:1; ⇒ 11:1; ⇒ Jer 3:19; ⇒ Sir 36:11; Wis 18:13; 2 Sam 7:14; ⇒ Ps 82:6.) It signifies an
adoptive sonship that establishes a relationship of particular intimacy between
God and his creature. When the promised Messiah-King is called "son of
God", it does not necessarily imply that he was more than human, according
to the literal meaning of these texts. Those who called Jesus "son of
God", as the Messiah of Israel, perhaps meant nothing more than this.45
442
Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the
Christ, the Son of the living God", for Jesus responds solemnly:
"Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven." 46 ( Mt 16:16-17.) Similarly, Paul will write, regarding his conversion on the road
to Damascus, "When he who had set me apart before I was born, and had
called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that
I might preach him among the Gentiles..."47 (Gal 1:15-16. )" and in the synagogues
immediately [Paul] proclaimed Jesus, saying, 'He is the Son of God.'"48 (Acts 9:20. ) From the beginning, this acknowledgment of Christ's divine sonship will be the
center of the apostolic faith first professed by Peter as the Church's
foundation.49 (I Th 1:10; ⇒ Jn 20:31; ⇒ Mt 16:18.)
443
Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah's divine
sonship because Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To his
accusers' question before the Sanhedrin, "Are you the Son of God,
then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am."50 (Lk 22:70; cf. ⇒ Mt 26:64; ⇒ Mk 14:61-62.) Well before this, Jesus
referred to himself as "the Son" who knows the Father, as distinct
from the "servants" God had earlier sent to his people; he is
superior even to the angels.51 (Mt 11:27; ⇒ 21:34-38; ⇒ 24:36. ) He distinguished his sonship from that of his
disciples by never saying "our Father", except to command them:
"You, then, pray like this: 'Our Father'", and he emphasized this
distinction, saying "my Father and your Father".52 (Mt 5:48; ⇒ 6:8-9; ⇒ 7:21; ⇒ Lk 11:13; ⇒ Jn 20:17.)
444
The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the
Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his
"beloved Son".53 (Mt 3:17; cf. ⇒ 17:5.) Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God",
and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence.54 (Jn 3:16; cf. ⇒ 10:36.) He asks for faith in
"the name of the only Son of God".55 ( Jn 3:18.) In the centurion's exclamation
before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God",56 (Mk 15:39.) that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the
believer give the title "Son of God" its full meaning.
445
After his Resurrection, Jesus' divine sonship becomes manifest in the power of
his glorified humanity. He was "designated Son of God in power according
to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead".57 (Rom 1:3; cf. ⇒ Acts 13:33. ) The
apostles can confess: "We have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son
from the Father, full of grace and truth."58
IV.
Lord
446
In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the ineffable Hebrew name YHWH,
by which God revealed himself to Moses,59 (Ex 3:14. ) is rendered as Kyrios,
"Lord". From then on, "Lord" becomes the more usual name by
which to indicate the divinity of Israel's God. the New Testament uses this
full sense of the title "Lord" both for the Father and - what is new
- for Jesus, who is thereby recognized as God Himself.60
447
Jesus ascribes this title to himself in a veiled way when he disputes with the
Pharisees about the meaning of Psalm 110, but also in an explicit way when he
addresses his apostles.61 ( Mt 22:41-46; cf. ⇒ Acts 2:34-36; ⇒ Heb 1:13; ⇒ Jn 13:13.) Throughout his public life, he demonstrated his
divine sovereignty by works of power over nature, illnesses, demons, death and
sin.
448
Very often in the Gospels, people address Jesus as "Lord". This title
testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach him for help and
healing.62 (Mt 8:2; ⇒ 14:30; ⇒ 15:22; et al.) At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, "Lord" expresses the
recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus.63 ( Lk 1:43; ⇒ 2:11.) In the encounter with the risen
Jesus, this title becomes adoration: "My Lord and my God!" It thus
takes on a connotation of love and affection that remains proper to the
Christian tradition: "It is the Lord!"64 ( Jn 20:28, ⇒ 21:7.)
449
By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first
confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,
honor and glory due to God the Father are due also to Jesus, because "he
was in the form of God",65 (Acts 2:34 - 36; ⇒ Rom 9:5; ⇒ Titus 2:13; ⇒ Rev 5:13; ⇒ Phil 2:6.) and the Father manifested the sovereignty of
Jesus by raising Him from the dead and exalting him into his glory.66
450
From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship
over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not
submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but
only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the
Lord".67 (Rev 11:15; ⇒ Mk 12:17; ⇒ Acts 5:29. ) "The Church. . . believes that the key, the center and the
purpose of the whole of man's history is to be found in its Lord and
Master."68 (GS 10 # 3; Cf. 45 # 2. )
451
Christian prayer is characterized by the title "Lord", whether in the
invitation to prayer ("The Lord be with you"), its conclusion
("through Christ our Lord") or the exclamation full of trust and
hope: Maranatha ("Our Lord, come!") or Maranatha ("Come,
Lord!") - "Amen Come Lord Jesus!"69
IN
BRIEF
452
The name Jesus means "God saves". the child born of the Virgin Mary
is called Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins" (⇒ Mt 1:21): "there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (⇒ Acts 4:12).
453
The title "Christ" means "Anointed One" (Messiah). Jesus is
the Christ, for "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power" (⇒
Acts 10:38). He was the one "who is to come" (⇒ Lk 7:19), the object
of "the hope of Israel" (⇒
Acts 28:20).
454
The title "Son of God" signifies the unique and eternal relationship
of Jesus Christ to God his Father: he is the only Son of the Father (cf ⇒ Jn 1:14, ⇒ 18; ⇒ 3:16, ⇒ 18); he is God himself
(cf ⇒ Jn 1:1). To be a
Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (cf ⇒ Acts 8:37; ⇒ 1 Jn 2:23).
455
The title "Lord" indicates divine sovereignty. To confess or invoke
Jesus as Lord is to believe in his divinity. "No one can say 'Jesus is
Lord' except by the Holy Spirit'" (⇒
I Cor 12:3).
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