JESUS IS THE PROPHESIED MESSIAH
ARISTEO CANLAS FERNANDO
Peace Crusader and Echo
Messiah is from the Hebrew word “mashiach” meaning “anointed” or “anointed one”. In Greek, it is equivalent to “Khristos” from which we get the word “Christ” in English.
All quotes herein are from the Holy Bible, King James Version.
Some of the people who recognized that Jesus was the Christ were:
1. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter – John 1:41 – “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
2. Philip – John 1:45 – “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
3. Nathanael – John 1:49 – “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”
4. Simon Peter, when asked who the people say Jesus is – Matthew 16:16 and Mark 8:29 – “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
5. Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus – John 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.”
6. The Samaritans after hearing Jesus – John 4:41-42 – “And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour.
At times, Jesus admitted that He is the Christ, to wit:
1. Matthew 16:17 in response to Simon Peter’s acknowledgement that Jesus is the Christ – “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
2. John 4:25-26 in response to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well – “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
At times, Jesus instructed His apostles not to tell anyone that He is the Christ, to wit:
1. Mark 8:29-30 – “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.”
2. Mark 9:9 after the transfiguration – “And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.”
At times, Jesus put the Jews in suspense, as in John 10:24-25 – “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered the, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.”
In conclusion, John said in John 20:31 – “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
