Who is the Messiah?

Many false messiahs have presented themselves to the world at various times in history and will continue to do so. How then are we to know the real one? The answer lies within the pages of the Tanakh, so let us search the Scriptures together to know the truth. God is not a God of confusion. He has had the lineage of His ‘anointed one’ written into the Law, the Prophets and the Writings for us so that no one can confuse us, for our eternal destiny is determined by this knowledge. For once we know who He is, we must make a response as this is God’s Way of Salvation, for the Temple sacrifices for our sins no longer exists.

Let us, first and foremost, understand that the Messiah had to come before the destruction of the Second Temple, as foretold by the prophet Daniel: Daniel 9:25-26. “Know then, and understand that from the going out of a word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in times of affliction. And after sixty-two weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of a coming prince shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end shall be with the flood, and ruins are determined, until the end shall be war.”

It is a matter of historical record that Jerusalem, and especially the sanctuary (the Temple), were destroyed by the Roman army in 70 AD/CE. Not only this, but the Messiah had to be cut off, i.e. killed, not for himself but for the people. Also note that “until the end shall be war”. So until the Messiah returns there will be no lasting peace in this world.

The pages of Scripture also tell us where the Messiah must be born:

Micah 5:2 “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me, to become Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth have been from old, from the days of eternity.”

Consider also the remarkable prophecy given by Isaiah, one of the major prophets of Israel. Isaiah 7:14. “So the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold! The virgin* is with child, and shall bring forth a son; and she shall call His name Immanuel.” (*or maiden, previously without child.)

(The name Immanuel means with us is God). The only conclusion one can come to is that part of the Godhead would come amongst us. The Anointed One, The Messiah who is the Son of God as He stated He was, who came to lead a sinless life, showing us the way back to God.

We must consider Isaiah’s other remarkable utterance in the name of the Lord:

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For a child is born; to us a Son is given; and the government is on His shoulder; and His name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. There is no end to the increase of His government and of peace on the throne of David and on His kingdom, to order it, and to sustain it with justice and with righteousness, from now and forever. The zeal of Y-hw-h of hosts will do this.”

(Again it is made clear for us that this child is none other than the Lord, manifest in the flesh. Please note that the Messiah must be ‘cut off’ as described in Daniel 9:26 before coming again to sit on the throne of David as mentioned above.)

Can God have a Son? Let us look at Psalm 2: Psalm 2:7-12. “I will declare concerning the statute of Y-hw-h: He said to Me, You are My Son. Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now, then, be wise, 0 kings; be taught, 0 judges of the earth: Serve Y-hw-h with fear; yea, rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. 0 the blessings of all who are fleeing to Him for refuge!”

Anyone therefore who proclaims himself to be the Messiah must have been born in Bethlehem in the first place and then be ‘cut off’ for the sake of His people in fulfilment of God’s Word. Only one person in history has fulfilled these prophecies – Yeshua/Jesus. He died for the sins of all, atoning for our transgressions and then rising from the dead to show there is life after death for all eternity. God’s perfect plan is to show forgiveness
through the name of Messiah and His work of redemption.

Share this page