I am the King, the Jewish Messiah - Jesus
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Meaning of Messiah
Messiah means "Anointed One" in Hebrew. Literally, it translates "anointed by oil, " but that expressed "anointed by the Spirit." In Old Testament times, kings were the main ones who had been anointed also priests and sometimes prophets but most often "Anointed One" was used to refer to a king. So the Jews thought primarily in terms of a king. They did not think that Messiah would be a divine figure. We sometimes roll that all together, but in Jesus` time it is important to understand that people`s expectation about Messiah was not that it would be God in human form.



By: John Ortberg
Category: I am the King, the Jewish Messiah - Jesus
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Christ is not Jesus` Last Name
"Jesus Christ" has been a title for such a long time that we may think of "Christ" almost as if it were Jesus` last name. It was not. It was a title: The Anointed One. The Greek word for the Messiah was around for a long time before Jesus was born. People were waiting for "the Christ." And when someone claimed to be "the Christ, " the people who waited for Messiah watched. If he beat the Romans and ushered in the Messianic Age, then he would be the real guy. If he did not"if the Romans beat him"then he would be just another "wannabe." They would keep waiting.



By: John Ortberg
Category: I am the King, the Jewish Messiah - Jesus
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Baptism by John
This is a very significant moment in Jesus` ministry, because at the time of His anointing, He is anointed by the Spirit. Then John announces Him. This is very interesting. John does not point to Jesus and say, "Behold Messiah who will defeat the Romans and cover us all in glory!" Instead, John points to Jesus and says,

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ''John 1:29''

There were a lot of people in Jesus` day who were trying to claim the title "Messiah." Guess how many people were trying to claim the title "Lamb of God?" Nobody. What happens to the Lamb of God? Each year at Passover, every family would select a lamb to be sacrificed. It was a way of expressing that something`s gone wrong with us that the human race has made a mess of our world, and we can`t make it right. We need forgiveness. We need for it to be atoned for, and we can`t do it ourselves. When He is twelve years old, Jesus goes to the Temple where they are celebrating Passover. He sees the lamb laid on the altar. He sees it slain, its blood shed. I wonder what He thought. Behold the Lamb of God.

Jesus` message is that our problem is not just a Roman problem; it`s not just a problem out there; it`s a sin problem. Messiah has come, but He hasn`t come just for Israel. He`s come for the whole world the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The way that Messiah will bring the Kingdom to earth is not by conquest, power, violence and anger, but through love and sacrifice the way of the Cross.

We all have our own stories. We all want a Messiah who is strong, who will fix things up out there, make our circumstances the way we want them to be. But we need a Messiah who will fix things up in here"in our hearts.



By: John Ortberg
Category: I am the King, the Jewish Messiah - Jesus
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The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." ( John 4:25-26)

Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." ( John 18:36)

But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments, and said, "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" ( Mark 14:61-64)

Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." ( John 18:37)

So the Jews gathered round Him and said to Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me." ( John 10:24-25)

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