Why Jesus is a Messiah
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The teacher explored the biblical meaning and significance of the title "Messiah" (Christ), which many Christians recognize from Handel's famous musical work but may not fully understand. The lesson traced the word "Messiah" through all four biblical occurrences: two in the Old Testament (Daniel 9:25-26, which prophetically describes the coming Messiah Prince) and two in the New Testament (John 1:40-41, where Andrew identifies Jesus as the Messiah, and John 4:25-26, where Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well). The teacher explained the etymological foundation of the term through the Hebrew verb "Meshach," which appears approximately 140 times in the Old Testament and means "to smear, anoint, or spread." The word "Messiah" and its Greek equivalent "Christos" both mean "the Anointed One." In biblical context, anointing was a ceremonial act that set apart individuals for special purposes—particularly prophets, priests, and kings who received oil poured upon them as a sign of God's selection and empowerment. The lesson emphasized that understanding Jesus as the Messiah means recognizing him as the ultimate Anointed One, the fulfillment of Old Testament promises of a coming leader who would be uniquely set apart and empowered by God for his redemptive work.
Key Scriptures
So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah, the prince, there will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. It will be built again with plaza and moat, even in the times of distress.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He found his brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which translated means Christ.