Who is Messiah?
Messiah or Mashiach is a Hebrew term meaning "the anointed one" or "the chosen one". It comes from the Hebrew word "mashach" which means to anoint with oil. The Greek equivalent of Messiah is "Christos", translated in English as Christ.
In the Old Testament, whenever God chooses a new priest, prophet or king, He will instruct that chosen person to be anointed with oil as a sign of being specially set apart in service to Him.
For example, Moses anointed Aaron as a priest, Elijah anointed Elisha as a prophet in his place and Samuel anointed David as king over Israel.
Even furnishings in the tabernacle of Moses were anointed with oil to be set apart as holy objects for worshipping God.
So anything anointed with oil to be set apart to God is considered "maschiach".
However all these actually point to the true Messiah who would be anointed and chosen by God to complete the most important mission of all—to save mankind from their sins.
The ‘anointing oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit who comes upon the Messiah to provide divine empowerment.
In the Old Testament, there are many prophecies that point to this Messiah who would save Israel from their sins.
Jewish Rabbis mistakenly believe that there are two different Messiahs: one is "Messiah the Son of Joseph" (Mashiach Ben Yosef) and the other "Messiah the Son of David" (Mashiach Ben David).
This is because both are portrayed so differently that they think it's talking about two different people.
Mashiach Ben Yosef is depicted as a suffering servant who suffers and dies on behalf of Israel, whereas Mashiach Ben David is described as a glorious, triumphant King who defeats Israel's enemies and saves her, establishing a worldwide kingdom of peace.
Many Jews wrongly think that Mashiach Ben Yosef will act as a forerunner to announce the coming of Mashiach Ben David.
“The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah comes, he who is called Christ. When he has come, he will declare to us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who speaks to you.”” (John 4:25-26 WEB)
Jesus plainly declared Himself to be the Messiah and fulfillment of the prophecies about both Mashiach Ben Yosef and Mashiach Ben David.
These prophecies are not talking about two different men, but refer to the different purposes of Jesus' first and second coming.
During His first coming, Jesus came as the Lamb of God to die as a perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. At that time, He didn’t come to destroy men but to save men’s lives.
In His impending second coming, Jesus will return majestically as the Lion of the tribe of Judah to defeat the Antichrist and save Israel from him and his wicked armies.
Jesus will then establish His kingdom from Jerusalem and usher in a thousand year period of world peace known as "The Millennial Reign of Christ".
Finally, He will sit on His throne as the Judge over the living and the dead, rendering to each one according to their works.
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” (John 14:11 WEB)
While He was on earth, Jesus authenticated His claims of being the Messiah by working numerous miraculous signs and wonders, causing many to believe in Him.
Out of the many miracles, thirty-seven specific ones were selected by God to be recorded in the four gospels in the New Testament.
This is definitely not by chance—God wants us to study these miracles and see different aspects about Him revealed in them.
In my upcoming book "Messiah's Miracles—The Power of Having Faith in Jesus Christ", I expound all thirty-seven miracles and unveil God's heart of goodness, grace, mercy and love towards us as demonstrated through these miracles.
It is not God’s will for a Christian to live a natural, powerless life.
We are supposed to be seeing and enjoying the miraculous power of God at work in our lives and in the lives of those we minister to.
We can't afford to only have the word of God without the power of God—effective evangelism hinges on the potent combination of both.
“For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20 WEB)
Often we don't experience the power of God because we don't expect it to.
Some of us pray just soothe our emotional turmoil, and others go for church just to hear a good message to feed the mind, and walk off to lunch untransformed, never really encountering Jesus.
What better way to feed our faith for the miraculous than to meditate on the miracles that Jesus did? This faith-feeding process is what I feel led to facilitate through my upcoming book.
When you become a "God Every Morning" (GEM) tier and above patron on Patreon, you will receive the ebook once it's ready (early this year), ahead of everyone else who will be available to purchase it in-store.
I believe that "Messiah's Miracles--The Power of Having Faith in Jesus Christ" will be a great blessing to you. As you see God's heart for you in each one of Jesus' miracles, faith will arise in your heart to receive an overflow of miracles in all areas of your life as well.
Become a patron on Patreon (remember to click "Show More" to see all tiers) and partner with us in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world: http://patreon.com/miltongohblog
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