Do we believe that \”Jesus is the Messiah/Christ\”?
That is the question to answer – not, \”Is Jesus God\”.
ANDREW believed right from the start of Jesus\’s ministry, after Jesus\’s baptism: \”He (Andrew) first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, \’We have found the Messiah\’ (which is translated, the Christ).\”
– John 1:41.
PETER, when questioned by Jesus, said: \”You are the Messiah/Christ, the son of the living God.\” – Matthew 16:16. Peter also preached,
\”that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Messiah/Christ.\” – Acts 2:36.
The APOSTLES did not cease from teaching and preaching that
\”Jesus is the Messiah/Christ\” – even after they\’d been beaten.
– Acts 5:42.
MARTHA, outside her brother Lazarus\’s tomb, said to Jesus: “Yes, Lord,
I believe that you are the Messiah/Christ, the son of God, who is to come into the world.” – John 11:27.
JOHN stated that the purpose of writing was: \”but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah/Christ, the son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.\” – John 20:31.
JESUS told the woman at the well of Samaria that he was the Messiah/Christ: \”The woman said to him, \’I know that Messiah/Christ is coming. When he comes, he will tell us all things.\’ Jesus said to her,
\’I who speak to you am he.\’ \” – John 4:25,26.
PAUL said: \”This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Messiah/Christ.\”
– Acts 17:3.
So, what did all these people mean by \”Messiah/Christ\”?
It simply means \”anointed one\”. It doesn\’t mean \”God\”!
Who \”anointed\” Jesus? Peter, when addressing the Gentile Cornelius\’s household, answers for us: \”How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.\” – Acts 10:38. Clearly, Jesus isn\’t God!
\”Anointing\” was always for a particular calling or mission, e.g. to be a priest or a king. In Jesus\’s case, it covers both of these \’callings\’ plus much more since Jesus would be the ransom for our sin – a unique \’mission\’.
God gave Moses a brief overview of Jesus\’s uniqueness at
Deuteronomy 18:18 which is confirmed as referring to Jesus by Philip (John 1:45), Peter (Acts 3:22,23) and Stephen (Acts 7:37).
No doubt, Isaiah prophesied this \’unique calling\’ (Isaiah 53).
WE DEFINITELY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TERM \’MESSIAH/CHRIST\’ IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND
WHO JESUS IS.
God\’s words to Moses make it clear that this particular person is an Israelite man. There\’s no way that anyone could concur that this person is God Himself because God will give this person the words to speak!
\”I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.\” – Deuteronomy 18:18.