Messiah is the Hebrew word for “anointed one” or “king.” In the Greek it is translated Christ. The prophets in the Old Testament spoke of and looked forward to the One who would be born and sit on David’s throne and reign forever in Jerusalem (Psalm 2). During the time that Jesus walked this earth, the anticipation for the coming of the Messiah was very high because the Jewish people understood the basic timeline of the prophecies (Daniel 9:24-27). They were in expectation that this King, this anointed one of God, this Messiah, would come.
John 1:40-41. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him (Jesus), was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
John 4:25-26. The woman said to Him (Jesus), “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Most Jews misunderstood what the Messiah’s role would be. The very thought that the Messiah would suffer and die on a cross was foreign to them, in fact, this concept was repulsive and a stumbling block to them (1 Cor. 1:21-23). Daniel prophesied that the “Messiah” would be put to death for the people (Daniel 9:26), but the Jews were expecting a victorious king like David who would defeat all their enemies. This explains the behavior of Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers. He confessed Jesus as “the Christ”, but then rebuked Jesus in the next breath for saying that He was going to be crucified (Matt. 16:16,21-22). Peter had an incorrect view of the Messiah’s purpose.
Jesus came to fulfill those prophecies and to take His rightful position as the Messiah or the Christ. You see, when people say, “Jesus Christ,” it is not like saying Bob Smith. Christ is not Jesus’ last name, but rather Christ or Messiah is His rightful title as the King of Kings. He earned that title through the death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter (who finally understood) preached that Jesus had ascended to the throne, saying “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Jesus, as our suffering and risen Savior, is our Messiah, our Christ, our King.
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