Was our Lord a Greek? English Christ, German Christus, French Christ, Spanish Cristo, etc. derive from Xristos—a Greek translation of Hebrew Meshiach, meaning "the anointed one."

Did Peter say, "Thou art the Christ?" (Matthew 16:16) Of course not. No Israelite would ever say such a thing. He said, "Thou art the Messiah." This is just one more example of the perverse anti-Jewish prejudice that overtly and covertly (too often satanically subtly) pervades society.

Also, the correct transliteration of his given name is not Jesus but Yeshua. These proper appellations have more and softer syllables than the traditional ones and are phonetically unsuitable as expletives. Their usage could curb blasphemous cursing somewhat.

In old English the name was transliterated with a J, which at that time represented phoneme /y/, like the <j> of German (Ja wohl!). This archaic spelling was retained after the sound shifted to its present phonetic value..

The Messiah's mission was performed among the Jews (the only non-pagan people on earth at that time among whom His mission could be performed, for which they should be eternally praised and honored), not the Greeks (however much we may appreciate them). In all propriety we should reverently refer to Him, and pray in His name, as Yeshua Messiah. This merits repeating: The softer syllables of Yeshua Messiah lend themselves much less to sacriligious profanation as an epithet.

Proper names should be transliterated, never translated. Hispanic Americans may render the surname Hall as Vestíbulo but only as a joke, always reverting to something sounding like "Hole" in serious conversation. No big deal? It definitely is. We should love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. Messiah, Messiahns, Messiahity, and Messiah Day are the appropriate terms and, except in quotations, will be given preference on this website. Messiah Day—not Messiahmas. Mas, meaning mass, has Catholic connotations and therefore lacks the appropriate universality.

Properly functioning, our minds tell us that taking upon ourselves the Savior's name means precisely that—accepting no substitutes. Don't be dubious or timorous. Witness that you are a Messiahn.

The time is far overdue to remove the pagan customs of Yuletide with all of its commercialism from the day commemorating the Messiah's birth. Please click here for a brief history of early celebrations. Let's call it Messiah Day and celebrate with manger scenes, shepherds, wisemen, crèches and beautiful carols. Pagan Yuletide (let's call it simply Yule, or else Yuletide) with its trees, logs, Santas, reindeers, sleighs and rank materialism should be celebrated on another day—perhaps a day or two after school lets out preceding the holiday weeks of Messiah Day and New Year's Day. Most likely one more holiday would be welcome and this might very well make a reverent, religious Messiah Day possible.

There is evidence that the Savior was born in September (or possibly April or May), not December. Shifting the celebration of His birth to springtime (In the Northern Hemisphere, September is a busy back-to-school month) might be quite difficult, but one way or day or another, Messiah Day should be completely separated from Yuletide.

Let's all honor the Jews on this day, making them prominent in our thoughts, honoring them for their steadfastness and resilience, their prophets, poets, teachers, scholars, and their unrivaled contributions in science, medicine, literature, art, and every other imaginable field. They are awaiting the coming of the Messiah in great power and glory just as fervently as those who believe it will be His second coming.

Does all of this matter to veterans of World War II who liberated horrendous concentration camps in Europe? When our "Fighting 411th" Infantry Regiment liberated the six camps surrounding Landsberg (where, incidentally, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while in the prison there), the unspeakable horror of it made this veteran resolve that from that day forward he would be an outspoken defender of the Jews, so terribly, falsely, maligned, discriminated against and persecuted for centuries. The slightest sign of anti-Semitism makes me bristle and fight it with all my might.

Yeshua, Name of Wondrous Love

Click here for words and music to this beautiful hymn.

Click here for an account of the liberation of the concentration camps at Landsberg.

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