Jesus Begins His Ministry - Matthew 3

From his childhood home, Nazareth, Jesus set out to begin his earthly ministry. He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, tempted by Satan in the desert, and then returned to Galilee. Between the temptation and his move to Capernaum (Matthew 4:12,13), he ministered in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee (see John 1-4). 

Christ

Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ #Ac 17:3 18:5 Mt 22:42 the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah #Isa 61:1 and by Daniel #Da 9:24-26 who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" #Ge 3:15 "the seed of Abraham" #Ge 22:18 the "Prophet like unto Moses" #De 18:15 "the priest after the order of Melchizedek" #Ps 110:4 "the rod out of the stem of Jesse" #Isa 11:1,10 the "Immanuel," the virgin’s son #Isa 7:14 "the branch of Jehovah" #Isa 4:2 and "the messenger of the covenant" #Mal 3:1 This is he "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." 

The Old Testament Scripture is full of prophetic declarations regarding the Great Deliverer and the work he was to accomplish. Jesus the Christ is Jesus the Great Deliverer, the Anointed One, the Saviour of men. This name denotes that Jesus was divinely appointed, commissioned, and accredited as the Saviour of men #Heb 5:4 #Isa 11:2-4 49:6 Joh 5:37 Ac 2:22 To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Saviour sent of God, that he was, in a word, what he claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian #1Co 12:3 1Jo 5:1

 

Christian

The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament #Ac 11:26 26:28 1Pe 4:16