Χριστός – christos was the Greek word equivalent to משיח – messiah, which means “anointed”, and implied approval from the highest authorities. Hebrew tradition had a Messiah who would be anointed with oil by the high priest of the Temple. The Messiah was authorized to perform military operations in order to protect or regain their political sovereignty, and there had been many Messiahs throughout Jewish history. It’s clear from the Judean history of uprisings that these Messiahs had caused Rome to spend a lot of money on military expeditions there. 

Ironically, it was precisely the sort of authority to rule given to a messiah that was so highly valued by Romans. Ever since the Senate had lost control of the imperial franchise, the transmission of this franchise from family to family was, in practice, a contest of arms. Any kind of magic fairy dust that would bestow authority upon them was sought out by the wealthiest of Roman families. Being able to claim themselves as “Messiah”/”Christ” would further empower any emperor.