The essential message of the Bible remains the same no matter whether we are reading about the patriarch Abraham or the apostle Paul, Deborah the judge or Mary the mother of Jesus. Lake a spotlight, the Scripture reveals the stain of sin in our lives. But it does not leave us exposed: it offers a way to become clean. Even Micah, a prophet who spent most of his time warning the Israelites coming judgment, spoke of God’s salvation.
God’s Standard / The People’s Sin / God’s Salvation
“He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6:8) / Idolatry (Micah 1:7; 5:13, 14): evil plans (Micah 2:1): coveting, violence, oppression (Micah 2:2): hating good and loving evil (Micah 3:2: greedy priests and prophets (Micah 3:11: deceit (Micah 6:11,12): unfaithfulness (Micah 7:2): family friction (Micah 7:6) / “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depts. Of the sea. (Micah 7:18, 19)
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) / “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23) / “In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph. 1:7)
The Appearances of Jesus Christ
Central to Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus. By recording the resurrection appearances, the New Testament leaves no doubt about this event.
In or around Jerusalem:
- To Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18)
- To other women (Matt. 28:8–10)
- To Peter (Luke 24:34)
- To ten disciples (Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–25)
- To the Eleven, including Thomas (Mark 16:14; John 20:26–29)
- At the Ascension (Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:4–12)
- To the disciples on the Emmaus road (Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13–35)
- In Galilee (28:16–20; John 21:1–24)
- To five hundred people (1 Cor. 15:6)
- To James and the apostles (1 Cor. 15:7)
- To Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–6; 22:1–10; 26:12–18; 1 Cor. 15:8)
The Meaning of Messiah
Matthew wrote his Gospel to demonstrate to his Jewish audience that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah. Who is the Messiah and why were the Jews waiting for such a person?
The Term
In Hebrew or Aramaic, the word Messiah means “anointed.” The Greek equivalent of the word is the title “Christ.”
Old Testament Background
In the OT, prophets, priests, and kings were literally anointed with oil to consecrate them for special service or to signify the endowment of the Spirit of God (Lev. 4:3; 8:12; 1 Sam. 10:1, 6; Ps. 105:15; Is. 61:1). These practices pointed to the promised arrival of God’s Anointed One, who would fulfill all three offices as the Prophet, the Priest, and the King.
Titles for the Messiah
Seed of Abraham (Ps. 105:6); Son of David (Matt. 1:1); Son of Man (Dan. 7:13); My Son (Ps. 2:7); My Servant (Matt. 12:18); My Elect One (Is. 42:1); The Branch (Zech. 3:8; 6:12); Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)
Major Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah
Gen. 3:15; 9:27; 12:3; 22:18; 49:8, 10; Deut. 18:18; 2 Sam. 7:11–16; 23:5; Pss. 2; 16; 22; 40; 110; Is. 2; 7; 9; 11; 40; 42; 49; 52; 53; Jer. 23:5, 6; Dan. 7:27; Hag. 2:9; Zech. 12:10–14; Mal. 3:1; 4:5, 6
Jewish Expectations for the Messiah
In the first century the Jews looked for a Messiah who would deliver the nation from Roman domination and become their King and rebuild the nation of Israel to its former glory. By looking for a military deliverer and a political Messiah, the Jews minimized the messianic roles of prophet and priest. Thus many Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah because He came as a humble spiritual Savior and not a conquering political ruler.
The Messiah’s Rule
Jesus indicated that He was the King for whom the Jews were looking. However, His kingdom was not an earthly kingdom but a heavenly kingdom. In Matthew there are thirty-two references to the “kingdom of heaven.” This phrase, found in the NT only in Matthew’s Gospel, is probably derived from the description of the kingdom of the Son of Man in Dan. 7:13–18. The phrase indicates the rule of heaven over all of the earth (Matt. 6:10).
Jesus’ Claim
When asked specifically if He was the Christ, Jesus answered in the affirmative, incurring the wrath of the Jews (Matt. 26:63–65). In addition, Jesus praised Peter for recognizing Him as the Anointed One of God (Matt. 16:15–20).
Significance
The title Messiah implies the idea of deity. The great prophet Moses, the priest Melchizedek, and even the glorious King David pale in comparison to the messianic Prophet-Priest-King. In the words of Heb. 1:3, Jesus Christ is the “brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person.’’ In short, He is God (Heb. 1:8)