The Lutheran Magazine (Volume 3) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: The LUTHERAN MAGAZINE. VOL,. III.] MARCH, 1889. [JiO. 2. THE CHRIST. Christ is a term which our translators bare derived from the Greek language, and signifies the Anointed. This name which so frequently occurs in the Holy Scriptures was given to our Saviour, in reference to the custom of anointing, which prevailed under the law. Under the law, it was customary to anoint with oil, various objects which were separated for sacred purposes. Jacob poured oil on the top of the Pillar which he erected at Betbsl; and in this consisted the ceremony of its consecration to the Lord. Moses anointed the Tabernacle, and the vessels of the Ministry, and by these means dedicated them to the service of God. The Jews anointed their Kings. Samuel anointed Saul to be King over Israel, and when Saul was rejected, David was anointed as his successor to the Throne. They anointed their Priests. Aaron and his successors in office, were anointed to be an everlasting Priesthood, throughout their generations. They anointed their Prophets. Elias was commanded by the Lord to go and anoint Elisha, to be a Prophet in his stead. When, therefore, Jesus is called Christ, we are thereby to understand that he hath been set apart by the Unction of the Holy Spirit to become a Prophet, Priest and King. Jesus Christ was anointed to the office of a Prophet. This is confirmed by his own declaration. To the Synagogue at Nazareth where, after having quoted these words from Isaiah, " The spirit of the Lord Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; be testified, this day is the Scripture fulfilled in your ears." He was designed for the sacred office before ever he was born, for, previous to his birth, the promise was communicated to his mother: " The Holy Ghost shall come up...