Did Jesus Really Claim to be The Messiah?

This is the beginning of a series highlighting some of the Old Testament prophecies, fulfilled by Jesus. These prophecies predicted the coming of the Messiah (from a Hebrew word, meaning “Anointed One,” a special servant sent from God to deliver His people, Israel).

Before we begin, I must address one of the most basic and fundamental objections to Christianity, the suggestion that Jesus never even claimed to be the Messiah, that he was only a good Jewish Rabbi who taught nothing that would challenge the Judaism of his day. Indeed, it was the Apostle Paul who created the idea that Jesus is the Messiah who came to die for our sins. This is an important place to start. After all, why bother to prove that Jesus came in fulfillment of prophecy if Jesus himself made no such cliam.

Let me make this is as easy and as simple as I possibly can. It is impossible to read the New Testament and conclude that Jesus did not claim to be the Christ (Greek word for Messiah) People try to claim that the text is corrupt and that the New Testament is unreliable for the history of Jesus. The authority and trustworthiness of the Bible is a discussion for a different article but for now, if we cannot trust the only detailed documents about Jesus’ life on what basis do people conclude that he was a good Jewish Rabbi? Indeed, they are forced to go to the same New Testament, picking and choosing which words they think belong there in the “fine” tradition of the Jesus Seminar.

For now, let’s just look at what the New Testament actually says. If one wants to make the case that it is not reliable, the burden of proof is on him.

Scriptures where Jesus claimed to be Christ (Messiah)

Matt. 16:15-17 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied “Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man but by my father in heaven.

Matt 26:63-67 “The High Priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you, In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then, the High Priest tore his clothes and said “He has spoken blasphemy. Why do we need any more witnesses? Look. Now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? “

“He is worthy of death” they replied. “Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.

Mark 1:1 (for those who make a big deal out of Mark, claiming it is earlier and therefore more reliable than the other gospels) “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark 15: 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked.

“Yes. It is as you say.” Jesus replied.

Mark 14: 61-62 “Again the High Priest answered “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“I am, “ said Jesus “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

As you see, Jesus did claim to be the Messiah. But what about that other controversy? Did Jesus also claim to be God incarnate?

We will discuss that claim in tomorrow’s blog.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE

New International Version NIV

Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.