Jesus Is the Messiah

DECEMBER 11, 2022 STUDY NOTES JESUS IS THE MESSIAH BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES INTRODUCTION At Christmas we often read and hear, “Jesus is the reason for the season” If that is true Christians have a reason to be excited about the Christmas Season But how do we know for sure that Jesus is the true Messiah? The word “Messiah” is a Hebrew word meaning “the anointed one” The word was associated with one who had been anointed, or set apart, for a special purpose “Messiah” refers to a person who has been specially chosen by God for a special purpose The OT looked forward to the “Coming Messiah,” the One set apart for God’s purpose According to the OT the Messiah would be the unique one chosen by God The Messiah would be “The Anointed One” sent by God unto the nation of Israel The one promised of God to be the Deliverer of the Jewish nation, God’s chosen nation In the OT the king, the high priest, and occasionally a prophet was those anointed In an anointing ceremony, oil was poured over their head as a sign that the anointed now had the right, and the responsibility to perform the duties of his position Aaron and his sons were anointed as priests, Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. Their anointing set them apart for the purpose of serving God Solomon was anointed as king, 1Ki 1:39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. The prophecy of the greatest of all prophets is found in, Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; Which Peter interpreted as Jesus Christ, Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Act 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. According to the NT Jesus is associated with all three offices, Prophet, Priest, and King The evidence of Prophet, Joh 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. The evidence of Priest, Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; The evidence of King, Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. JEWISH VIEWS OF THE MESSIAH The Jewish people lived with the hope of the coming Messiah They looked for the one who would carry out God’s plan of deliverance for his people The “Fall of man” revealed the need for the Messiah, sin had separated man from God (Gen 3) Immediately after the Fall of man the promise of the Messiah was given, Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. The Messiah was to be born of a woman identified by “her seed” (The virgin birth) In due time the seed of the woman will inflict a fatal blow to the head of the serpent Satan Page 1 of 5 The O.T. promised a special “Anointed One,” He would be a man chosen by God God chose a man by the name of Abraham and God gave him a promise, Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. It was revealed that the Messiah would come through the lineage of Abraham, Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. The promise was fulfilled in the Messiah, which is Christ, Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. The Messiah would come through God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel He would come through the lineage of the “Tribe of Judah” God signified that the leadership of the future Israelite nation would belong to the tribe of Judah There would come a great leader who would rule the nations in a reign of peace and prosperity God spoke through Jacob in, Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. “Shiloh” is a reference to the “Coming Messiah” King David belonged to the tribe of Judah and God promised David a kingdom that would last forever, 2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. The promise of God to David was an unending heir to his throne (II Sam. 7:12-16) The people of Israel lived in expectation of a time when all enemies would be defeated A time when the Messiah would reign in a worldwide kingdom of peace and righteousness From this the Jews expected the Messiah to come in victory over their enemies, Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. God taught Israel that He had a divinely appointed plan of deliverance from their enemies and sin It was the sacrificial death of the Messiah which the Jews could not understand or accept God also taught that He had a plan for the realization of a kingdom of righteousness Which was the living Messiah, Israel didn’t understand how a dead Messiah could live again The “anointed one” in Dan 9 points forward to Jesus Christ as the coming Messiah, Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel speaks of “Messiah the Prince” (Dan 9:25) Then Daniel reveals the death of the Messiah, “Messiah shall be cut off” (Dan 9:26) Daniel reveals that Messiah will carry out God’s ultimate plan of salvation for his people, Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. For centuries the nation of Israel had waited for the coming Messiah What Messiah did the Jews expect? The one who would die or the one who would live forever? By the time of Jesus’ birth, they had their mind set upon the immediate fulfillment of His work They had a narrow and unspiritual interpretation of Scripture related to the “Coming Messiah” They expected the Messiah to immediately deliver them and establish their Kingdom Expecting the Messiah to gather the Jews unto a state of national glory Page 2 of 5 They would then live in the Promised Land in a state of peace and prosperity Their expectations of the events were correct, it was their timing that was incorrect They had their order of events out of order and not according to God’s order of events JESUS IS THE MESSIAH Jesus did not begin his ministry with a public announcement of his messiahship He knew that the Jews had a wrong understanding of the Messiah and his kingdom The Jews were not interested in the promised spiritual work of the Messiah They were not looking for a spiritual leader who would deliver them from their enemy Satan They did not understand that they were under the rule and authority of Satan (true of all the lost) They were looking for a political leader who would deliver them from the power of Rome Expecting the Messiah to immediately bring in a kingdom of peace, contentment, and prosperity Jesus did not present himself as the Messiah until he had presented Himself as the True Messiah Until he had revealed all that was involved in the Person and Work of the Messiah They would follow Jesus for the wrong reasons (how often does that happen today?) Jesus did not speak of himself as the Messiah, He called himself the “Son of Man” A title that they did not understand and had little meaning to most people But it gave understanding to the true nature of the Messiah JESUS IS THE CHRIST—THE NEW TESTAMENT MESSIAH “Christ” is His official title, His Divine title, “Christ” is “Who He Is” The Greek word “Christ” has the same meaning as the Hebrew word “Messiah” As a title they both mean “the Anointed One” “The Anointed One” is qualified to carry out all-of the prophecies concerning the OT Messiah The questions the Jews needed to answer and all of mankind must answer is this: Is Jesus the Christ? Is Jesus “the Anointed One?” Is Jesus the promised “Messiah?” The New Testament reveals that “Christ” is the official title of Jesus the Savior Which had been revealed to the just and devout Simeon, Luk 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Luk 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Messiah) Luk 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Luk 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Luk 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Luk 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Simeon knew that he had seen and was holding the “Christ,” the “Messiah” Some thought that John the Baptist was the Messiah, but he said, Joh 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. Andrew told his brother about the Messiah, Joh 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. A woman of Samaria believed in the coming of the Messiah, she said to Jesus, Joh 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Joh 4:26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. Martha said, Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. (The Promised Messiah) Demons recognized Jesus, Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Peter confessed, Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Page 3 of 5 living God. Peter spoke for the Apostles, Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Prior to the crucifixion, Jesus avoided being called “Messiah” in public After Peter’s confession, Mar 8:30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. Jesus was the Messiah, but He did not want it known publicly at that time, why? Because of the wrong thinking of the Jews concerning the Messiah They were looking for a political king and not a “Suffering Savior” A crucified Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews, 1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; To the Jews the cross was a sign of Jesus’ weakness, powerlessness, and failure They rejected the concept of a crucified Messiah Jesus was condemned to die because of His claim to be the Christ, Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. But after His death and resurrection He was proclaimed as Messiah, God’s Anointed King Identified as the Resurrected--Exalted--Glorified--Returning King of Kings and Lord of Lords The message of the early church was “Jesus is Christ,” Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Literally, Jesus is the Christ) Paul had a heart changing experience on the Damascus Road (Acts 9) He was persecuting those who were following Jesus because they believed that He was the Christ Now the heart of Paul’s preaching was to prove that Jesus was the Christ, Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Act 9:21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? Act 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. Paul presented the truth of the Messiah from the scriptures, Act 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Act 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. Paul continually proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, Act 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. The title “Christian” identifies those who belong to and follow Christ the Messiah, Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. The title “antichrist” identifies those who reject Christ, 1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. So, it is true, Jesus Is the reason for the season, Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. We have the sign of His birth, Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. As the Messiah He must die on the cross and arise from the dead, Mar 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Throughout His earthly life Jesus revealed beyond doubt that He was the “Promised Messiah’ Scripture is filled with the evidence, “JESUS IS THE MESSIAH” There were many signs revealing Jesus as the Messiah, Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye Page 4 of 5 might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah? You must believe in Jesus as the Messiah and receive Him as your Savior to receive eternal life, Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Christians have a reason to celebrate Christmas, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. JESUS IS THE MESSIAH Page 5 of 5