Jesus Christ is the Messiah

Christianity and Judaism are eternally bonded through the Messiah who is the root and offspring of King David. He is both creator Lord God of David and the promised Messiah who will rule and reign forever. This is vitally important to understanding the Bible because all of the Old Testament (Moses, History, Poetry, and Prophets) looked forward to Jesus Christ and every page of the New Testament looks back to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ or forward to the reign and rule of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this has often caused confusion and animosity between Christians and Jews. Let’s look at the Bible truth of this eternal bond between us through Jesus Christ the Messiah.

This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”  He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”  (John 1:19-23 WEB/BSI ; Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20)

[Jesus] took the twelve aside, and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and  all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.  For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on. They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.” They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said. (Luke 18:31-34 WEB/BSI)

[Jesus] said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”  Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.  (Luke 24:25-27 WEB/BSI)

 [Jesus] said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.  He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49 WEB/BSI)

[Peter said,] “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.  But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.  “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.  For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.  You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. It will be, that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’  Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.  You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, Jesus, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:17-26 WEB/BSI)

Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah

Here are just a few of the hundreds of the prophecies of the Messiah in the writings of Moses and the Jewish prophets. I have added links to the BSI Hebrew Bible with Modern Hebrew NT for my Jewish friends:

• His coming was prophesied from the fall of Adam and Eve, in the Lord’s address to the serpent, thus, “The seed of the woman shall bruise thy head, but thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15 KJV/BSI), a prophecy obscure at first, but abundantly explained by subsequent history and prophecy.
• The promise was made to Abraham and renewed to Isaac and Jacob, that in their seed, all the families of the earth should be blessed (Chronological study of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)
• The family of Jacob was chosen to be a peculiar people to the Lord.  Laws, sacrifices, and institutions were given them to be as a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ, and it was declared the scepter “shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh come” (Genesis 49:10 KJV/BSI).
• “A prophet like unto Moses, him shall ye hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15,18 KJV/BSI).
• As time progressed the covenant was further confirmed and limited to the tribe of Judah, and the family of Jesse, and, again, of David. [The Davidic Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10 KJV/BSI) promised Israel that Messiah would come from Judah and have a throne and a kingdom, ruling over Israel]
• He should open the blind eyes, unstop the deaf ears, make the lame to leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb to sing (Isaiah 35:5-6 KJV/BSI; Isaiah 29:18/BSI).
• He should feed His flock like a shepherd (Isaiah 40:11 KJV/BSI);
• He should preach good tidings unto the meek, bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captive, and comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2 KJV/BSI).
• “I will set one shepherd over them, even My servant David” (Ezekiel 34:23 KJV/BSI).
• “A king shall reign and prosper, and this is the name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5-6 KJV/BSI).
• He was “to be a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4 KJV/BSI).
• “He shall be a priest upon His throne” (Zechariah 6:13 KJV/BSI).
• And he shall be for a sanctuary (Isaiah 8:14 KJV/BSI);
• He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
• I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1-2 KJV/BSI).
• Thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9 KJV/BSI).
• Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27 KJV/BSI)
• His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (Psalm 89:36 KJV/BSI)
• He should “open His mouth in a parable, and utter dark sayings of old” (Psalm 78:2 KJV/BSI; Isaiah 6:9-10 KJV/BSI).
• The rulers should “take counsel together against Him” (Psalm 2:2 KJV/BSI).
• His “own familiar friend, who did eat of His bread,” should “lift up his heel against Him” (Psalm 41:9 KJV/BSI).
• “They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the House of the Lord” (Zechariah 11:12-13 KJV/BSI).
• “They gave me gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:21 KJV/BSI).
• “Not a bone of Him should be broken” (Exodus 12:46 KJV/BSI; Psalm 34:20 KJV/BSI).
• “He should give His back to the smitters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair.”  “He hid not His face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6 KJV/BSI).
• The assembly of the wicked should enclose Him—“they pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16 KJV/BSI).
• “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:18 KJV/BSI).
• “All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip; they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him” (Psalm 22:7-8 KJV/BSI).
• He should “make His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth” (Isaiah 53:9 KJV/BSI).
• He should “make intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12 KJV/BSI).
• He should rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10 KJV/BSI), ascend into heaven, and receive gifts for men, even “for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them” (Psalm 68:18 KJV/BSI).
• He should “pour out His Spirit on all flesh, so that their sons and daughters should prophesy,” (Joel 2:28 KJV/BSI).
• To “one like unto the Son of Man” was to be given “dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages, should serve Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV/BSI).
• The time of the Messiah’s advent was closely indicated by the prophecy of Daniel; seventy weeks of years, or 490 years from the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-25 KJV/BSI).
• It was to be during the continuance of the second Temple, and when there should be a general expectation and desire in all nations for Him (Haggai 2:6–9 KJV/BSI).
• He would be preceded by a forerunner, who would prepare His way (Malachi 3:1 KJV/BSI).
• The place of His birth was pointed out by Micah 5:2 KJV/BSI as Bethlehem of Judah.
• He was to be born of a virgin, and called Immanuel—“God with us” (Isaiah 7:14 KJV/BSI).
• He was to commence His teaching in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2 KJV/BSI).
• For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV/BSI)
• Out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2 KJV/BSI).

The character of His mediatorial coming; His humble origin; His lowly, suffering life, and His cruel death—were described with singular accuracy by the Prophet Isaiah;—as well as the ultimate glory of His Kingdom and reign.  And the Psalms abound in references to the sufferings of Christ, often spoken as of David, but having their full accomplishment in Him who was emphatically “the Son of David.”

The prophets understood the Messianic Message

It might be easy for scoffers to say the New Testament was written to match up with supposed prophecies of the Messiah from the Hebrew Tanakh. Some have even said the New Testament was revised hundreds of years later to make it more consistent. But, what about the Old Testament writers who understood the Messianic message from earlier writers?

Concerning this salvation, the [Jewish old testament Hebrew] prophets sought and searched [the Hebrew old testament Torah and Tanakh] diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them. To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10-12 WEB/BSI)

For the purpose here, it is essential to observe what John Sailhamer called “the poetic seams of the Torah.” At specific points in the macro-structure of the Torah’s narrative, Moses inserted large poetic discourses that focus on the coming of a king from the tribe of Judah in “the last days” (See Genesis 49:1,8-12; Numbers 24:14, 17-24; Deuteronomy 31:28-29; 33:5,7). The repetition of this key feature within the macro-structure of the Torah suggests the Toray wa written intentionally to engender faith in the coming of the Messiah. –The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy : The Old Testament in the Old Testament by Seth D. Postell, pg 94

It may come as a surprise to hear that Jeremiah’s prophecy of the new covenant was not a sudden burst of new developments in the course of progressive revelation. In other words, Jeremiah’s “new” covenant was not an entirely new concept. Rather, several citations and allusions to the Torah suggest that Jeremiah’s message was simply a reiteration (albeit a divinely inspired reiteration and commentary) of Moses’ prophecy in Dt 30 (and of other eschatological passages from the Torah). –The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy : The Old Testament in the Old Testament by Seth D. Postell, pg 96

Scholars have long noted Jeremiah’s dependency on Deuteronomy. Charles Feinberg, for instance writes, “Some sixty-six passages from Deuteronomy find an echo in Jeremiah’s eighty-six references to the book.” Chapters 1-28 of Jeremiah primarily focus on the coming destruction of Jerusalem because of covenant disobedience. Chapters 29-33 unexpectedly turn to the theme of redemption in “the last days” (30:24) that also includes the promise of the new covenant (31:31-34) and the coming Messiah (30:9). Jeremiah 29-33 (the new covenant section) is full of allusions to and citations of Dt 30 as well as other eschatological texts from the Toray. –The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy : The Old Testament in the Old Testament by Seth D. Postell, pg 96

It appears that Paul understands Lv 18 and Dt 30 as two different covenants within the Torah itself, the Sinai and thew new covenants, respectively. And while many commentators are hard pressed to find promises of the Messiah and the new covenant in Dt 30, Jeremiah’s pre-Christian interpretation opens wide the path leading from Dt 30 directly to Rom 10, and to Jesus the Messiah. Thus, the Prophet’s use of the Torah (OT use of the OT) provides a vital link from the OT to Jesus as the promised Messiah. –The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy : The Old Testament in the Old Testament by Seth D. Postell, pg 96

Jesus Christ fulfills the Messianic prophecies

The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias as he ministered in the priest’s office, to announce the approaching birth of John the Baptist, who should “go before, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke i. 17).  This visitation was made on a very public occasion, on the great Day of Atonement, while “the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense” (Luke i. 10).  The angel Gabriel appeared also to the Virgin Mary to tell her that she should be blessed among women in giving birth to the Messiah (ver. 28), and “all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea” (Luke i. 65).
     The actual birth of our Lord was next announced by an angel to the shepherds, saying, “Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke ii. 11); “and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke ii. 14). —Jesus Fulfils the Law by Anonymous, pg. 66

The Holy Spirit anointed Christ. Luke 4:18 indicates Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit, which probably occurred at His baptism when the Holy Spirit visibly came upon Christ. The Spirit’s coming upon Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1. Just as kings were anointed (2 Sam. 2:4) and priests were anointed (Ex. 28:41), so the Messiah would be anointed. The act of anointing conferred power; in this case the Holy Spirit would Himself be the anointing, empowering Christ for ministry.
     Several points may be made summarizing the anointing of Christ: (1) The anointing designated Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and King. John 1 indicates John the Baptist “manifested” Jesus to the nation at His baptism. This was done in the manner of Old Testament kings (cf. 1 Sam. 16:6—13). (2) The anointing introduced Jesus to His public ministry (Acts 10:38). Following His baptism, Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and performing miracles. The anointing of the Holy Spirit set Jesus apart to His ministry as Israel’s Messiah. The anointing was necessary because of Jesus’ humanity and also to demonstrate the unity of the Trinity. (3) The anointing empowered Jesus for His public ministry (Luke 4:18). Although Jesus had power in Himself to perform miracles, He revealed the unity within the Triune Godhead and His dependence upon Another in the Trinity by receiving the Holy Spirit’s empowering for ministry. (4) The anointing was a divine authentication of Jesus. At the baptism of Christ, the Father audibly confirmed Jesus as Messiah to the nation; the people heard the Father’s authenticating statement, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17). — The Moody Handbook of Theology (pg. 275)

On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:43-51 WEB/BSI)

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20 WEB/BSI; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (Matthew 17:1-3 KJV/BSI; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.” The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”  Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:48-59 WEB/BSI)

 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”  His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it. For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.” (Zechariah 9:9-13; Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19 WEB/BSI)

 Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten.  If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. (1 John 5:1-3 MSG/BSI)

The Revelation of the Messiah

The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
     Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth.
     In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
     The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. (Acts 8:29-35 WEB/BSI)

The Messiah is returning soon. It may be any day. It may be any time. Are you ready?

I, John, am writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.

The Master declares, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.” (Revelation 1:4-8 MSG)

For deeper study: