“Anointed One” is translated as “Messiah” in Hebrew and “Christ” in Greek. Since the New Testament is written in Greek, “Christ” is almost always the term used. However, Jesus and his apostles primarily spoke in Hebrew (or the related language Aramaic) so they would have used the term “Messiah.” You can see this in action in John 1:41 and 4:25, where John explains that the term “Christ” is the same as “Messiah.”
The terms “Messiah” would have probably been the term used until about 50 AD when virtually all Christians were Jews who spoke Hebrew. From about 50 AD to 70 AD, the term “Messiah” would have been used by the Jewish Christians and the term “Christ” would have been used by the Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. During that time period, the terms would have been synonymous. That is also the time period when virtually all of the New Testament was written in Greek, except for the books by John.
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Jesus was a “tekton,” a Greek word for builder or construction worker. He very likely crafted building materials, especially stone, and used them to build things. His story of the wise and foolish builders found in Matthew 7:24-27 shows his understanding of the need for a firm foundation for the things you believe.
Jesus was also a teacher, “rabbi,” known for his ability to tell parables and interpret Scripture in amazing ways. An important characteristic of a true rabbi was his ability to live out his teachings exactly. The mark of a great rabbi was becoming indistinguishable from his teachings. If you knew him, you knew his teachings; if you knew his teachings, you knew him.
The New Testament writers described Jesus as a cornerstone. The cornerstone was the first stone set on a foundation. If set on a firm foundation, the structure would become a stout structure. If not, it would eventually fall from its initial fatal weakness.
Jesus starts the story of the builders with, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.” He told the story as part of the Sermon on the Mount, but he surely meant all of his teachings, not just the teachings of that afternoon as recorded by Matthew.
