Continue with Jesus Christ Our Questions Answered

*Teacher." (John 13:13) Jesus made it clear that his God-given work was "teaching . . .and preaching the good news" about God's Kingdom.  (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43) With remarkable clarity and simplicity, he explained what God's Kingdom is and what it will do in fulfilling Jehovah's will. -Matthew 6:9, 10)

* "The Word." (John 1:1) Jesus served as God's Spokesman-the means by which God conveyed  information and instruction to others.  Jehovah used Jesus to deliver His message to humans on earth. -John 7:16, 17.

Question: Was Jesus the Promised Messiah? 

Answer: Yes.  Bible prophecies foretold the coming of the Messiah, or Christ, meaning "Anointed One."  This Promised One would play a key role in fulfilling Jehovah's purpose. On one occasion, a certain Samaritan woman told Jesus:  "I know that the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ." Jesus then told her plainly:  "I who am speaking to you am he." -John 4:25, 26. 

Is there any proof that Jesus was indeed the Messiah? There are three lines of evidence that together provide overwhelming evidence, like the pattern of a fingerprint that identifies one person.  Does Jesus match the patter? Consider. 

* His lineage.  The Bible foretold that the Messiah would descend from Abraham though the family line of David. (Genesis 22:18; Psalms 132:11, 12) Jesus was a descendant of both. -Matthew 1:1-6; Luke 3:23-38.

*Fulfilled prophecies. The Hebrew Scriptures contain dozens of prophecies about the Messiah's life on earth, including details about his birth and death. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies. Among them, He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-11), he was called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15), and he was executed without having any of his bones broken.  (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33, 36). There is simply no way that Jesus could have maneuvered his life to fit the factors needed to fulfill all the Messianic prophecies. 

*God's own testimony.At the time of Jesus' birth, God dispatched angels to tell shepherds that the Messiah had been born.  (Luke 2:10-14)   On several occasions during Jesus' ministry, God himself spoke from heaven, expressing his approval of Jesus to perform powerful miracles, providing further proof that Jesus was the Messiah. -Acts 10:38. 

Next time: Conclusion of Jesus Christ Our Questions Answered

From the Watchtower magazine, 2012