Final answer:
The titles 'Christ' and 'Messiah' both signify an anointed savior or liberator. In the context of Judaism and early Christianity, these terms refer to a figure expected to deliver spiritual or political liberation, with Jesus acknowledged as the Messiah by Christians but not by Jews or Muslims.
Step-by-step explanation:
The titles "Christ" and "Messiah" both mean anointed one and are used in religious contexts to denote a savior or liberator. In Judaism, the Messiah was expected to be a figure who would liberate the Jews and fulfill the Covenant between God and the Jews, delivering the Promised Land. Many Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah because they expected a revolutionary leader who would free them from Roman oppression, a role Jesus did not fulfill politically during his lifetime. Conversely, early Christians, following the teachings of Paul, believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he offered spiritual salvation rather than political liberation.
Within Islam, Muhammad is acknowledged as a prophet in a long line of monotheistic prophets, confirming the Muslim belief in the same monotheistic God as that of Judaism and Christianity. However, the Qur'an names Muhammad as the final prophet. Moreover, in Buddhism, a prophecy indicated that Buddha would become either a holy man or an emperor, with him ultimately following the path of enlightenment to become a spiritual leader.
All three Abrahamic religions recognize the concept of a messiah, but they differ on its fulfillment. Christians believe Jesus was the Messiah and has already appeared, while Jews and Muslims await the arrival of the Messiah, whose mission is not yet fulfilled.