THE PROMISED MESSIAH

Long before Jesus was born, the Bible foretold  the coming of the one whom God would send as the Messiah, or Christ.  The  titles "Messiah" (from a Hebrew word) and "Christ" (from a Greek word) both mean "Anointed One."  This promised One would be anointed, that is, appointed by God to a special position.  In  later chapters of this book, we will learn more about the Messiah's important place in the fulfillment of God's promises.  We will also learn about the blessings that Jesus can bring to us even now.  Before Jesus  was born, however, many no doubt wondered, "Who will prove to be the Messiah?  

In the first century C.E., the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth were fully convinced that he was the foretold Messiah.  (John 1:41)  One of the disciples, a man named Simon Peter, openly said to Jesus:  "You are the Christ." (Matthew 16:16) How, though, could those disciples - and how can we be sure that Jesus really is the promised Messiah?  ( I know in my heart) 

The prophets of God who lived before Jesus foretold many details about the Messiah.  These details would help others  to identify him.  We might illustrate things this way: Suppose you were asked to go to a busy bus depot or a train station or an airport to pick up someone you had never met before.  Would it not help if someone gave you a few details about him?  Similarly, by means of the Bible prophets, Jehovah gave a rather detailed description of what the Messiah would do and what he would experience.  The fulfillment of these many prophecies would help faithful ones to identify him clearly. 

Consider just two examples.  First, over 700 years in advance, the prophet Micah foretold that the promised One would be born in Bethlehem,  a small town in the land of Judah.  (Micah 5:2) Where was Jesus actually born?  Why, in that very town!  (Matthew 2:1, 3-9)  Second, many centuries in advance,  the prophecy recorded at Daniel 9:25 pointed to that very year when the Messiah was to appear-29 C.E. The fulfillment of these and other prophecies proves that Jesus was the promised Messiah.  

Further proof that Jesus was the Messiah became clear near the end of 29 C.E..  That is the year when Jesus went to John the Baptizer to be baptized in the Jordan River. Jehovah had promised John a sign so that he could identify the Messiah.  John saw that sign at Jesus' baptism.  The Bible says that this is what happened:  "After being baptized  Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove God's spirit coming upon him.  Look!  Also, there was a  voice from the heavens that said:  'This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.' " (Matthew 3:16, 17)  After seeing and hearing what happened, John had no doubt that Jesus was sent by God (John 1:32-34) At the moment when God's spirit, or acitive force, was poured out upon him that day, Jesus became the Messiah, or Christ, the one appointed to be Leader and King. -Isaiah 55:4.

The fulfillment of Bible prophecy and Jehovah God's own testimony plainly show that Jesus was the promised Messiah.  But the Bible answers two other important questions about Jesus Christ: Where did he come from , and what kind of person was he?  

Next time: WHERE DID JESUS COME FROM? 

From the Book: What Does the Bible Really Teach? 2005 and 2006