Messiah Comes

Dear Brethren,

Where does the concept of the Messiah originate?  Does the Bible speaks of the Messiah coming?  Why do so few people expect a Messiah to appear soon on the scene?  The Old Testament Scriptures speak of a coming Messiah who would rule as King, but who also suffers as no other man ever would.  With an eager anticipation, Israel of the Old Testament, and the Jews of Jesus’ day looked for a powerful leader/Messiah who would immediately restore the power and might of the nation of Israel.  "When [the disciples] therefore were come together, they asked of [Jesus], saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"  (Acts 1:6)

“One of [John the Baptist's] two [disciples] which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”  (John 1:40-41)

Jesus proclaimed that He is the Messiah: “The [Samaritan] woman [at the well,] said unto [Jesus], I know that Messiah Comes – which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things.  Jesus said unto her, I, who am speaking to you, am He.”  (John 4:25-26)

Strangely, our world today recognizes only a “Jesus” who worked miracles and suffered.  The message of preachers today is about the person of Jesus – how He healed the sick and raised the dead – but they neglect the message of good news Jesus brought – that of the Kingdom of God.  There is very little expectation that Jesus Christ will actually obliterate the rulers of today’s nations, and little or no emphasis on the Messiah who will set-up His Father’s Kingdom and rule the earth.

The true Messiah fulfills both aspects of the dual prophecies – He first came in the flesh to suffer and die, and afterwards comes again in great power to rule the nations.  "There was given [to One like the Son of man] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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 7:14)

Jesus Christ came first to announce the soon coming Kingdom of God, and to show by infallible proof that He was indeed the Messiah, and to suffer and die for the salvation of mankind.  Now, He is poised to return to this earth in great power as King of kings.  Let’s understand that “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. “Christ” comes from the Greek, “Christos,” meaning “anointed, or Anointed One.”  The Messiah  is anointed (appointed) to rule over all the earth – the Kingdom of God.  To be the Christ, or the Messiah, is to be “the Anointed One, chosen of God.”

Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.  Jesus of Nazareth is the Divine Son of God the Father, begotten of Holy Spirit, born in the human flesh of the virgin Mary.  He became fully human and, therefore, capable of dying.  Jesus is the Word, the Logos, and He has existed eternally with the Father.  He was God in the beginning and He was, and is, a member of the glorious Godhead.  God the Father created all things by and through Jesus Christ.  Without Christ nothing was made; He was the God of the Old Testament and the God of ancient Israel.  Though capable of sinning, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life.  He was crucified to pay for the sins of mankind.

The Father resurrected Jesus after three days and three nights in the grave – the sign and proof that He is the Messiah and Savior of all mankind.  Jesus has made reconciliation to God the Father possible for all mankind, which was cut-off from God by sin.   "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."  (2 Corinthians 5:19)  Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, as our High Priest intervening for us before God the Father.  Very soon, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will come and establish His Father's Kingdom on the earth.

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Sermon:

"Messiah Comes"