Did Jesus Claim to be the Jewish Messiah?
Did Jesus Claim to be the Jewish Messiah?
This is a question that pops up from time to time, and frankly that is normal and expected from non-Christian groups.
What isn't expected is for someone purporting to be a Christian pastor to make the claim that Jesus never claimed to be the Jewish Messiah! But just such a claim has been made by pastor John Hagee in a pitch for a new book. You can view a short, 1 minute video here that contains this problematic claim.
To give an answer to this question to someone who claims unbelief in Christ is a great privilege. I have no problem at all with these types of questions because they are a teaching and witnessing opportunity, and to make things even better - this is to people who have been thinking. Sometimes a rare breed indeed.
But I have no idea what John Hagee has been thinking, and frankly that isn't the most important question. The most important question is the one that is the topic of this post: Did Jesus claim to be the Jewish Messiah? Other questions about John Hagee aren't my place to answer, they're Christ's.
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To answer our question one first must discover the things that were supposed to identify the Jewish Messiah. These would be the items of prophecy out of the Old Testament that looked forward to Messiah, and I believe (as an armchair theological historian) they would also have to include what the people and religious leaders believed about Messiah. The first part is the truth as it is from God, but the second item is important because it simply addresses the situation on the ground so to speak in first century Israel. Knowing both of these things helps us put Christ's words and deeds in context.
So to me the question becomes two-fold: In light of Old Testament prophecy & New Testament history, did Jesus claim to be the Messiah? And second, in light of what men and women believed about Old Testament prophecy, did Jesus claim to be the Messiah?
The first is the full and complete answer to our question, but the second answer touches on the issue as to whether or not the folks in first century Israel could have recognized the Biblical Messiah when He appeared based on what He said and did.
------------------
So, what were the things out of Old Testament prophecy that were supposed to identify Messiah? Well, that list is quite a long one and I can't cover all of them (this is a blog post, not a book), but I just want to list several of them and then narrow my focus to show that indeed Jesus absolutely claimed to be the Jewish Messiah, that He did so publicly, and that He did so in a manner that would have been understandable by anyone wanting to know the truth in first century Judea.
Some Prophecies Of Messiah Fulfilled In Jesus Christ (provided and documented in the Hebrew Old Testament over a time-span of 1000+ years)
What I wanted to do first was lay some groundwork so that it would be understood that no person could simply read Old Testament prophecy about Messiah and then fulfill them by their own effort. I hope that was clear in the list above.
Which of us decided our own genealogy? Which of us decided the place we would be born? Which of us decided (as a small baby you understand), that we would be carried off to another nation under dark of night to live as exiles until it was safe to go back home? The answer is, none of us because it is impossible.
There have been statistics published regarding the large body of Messianic prophecies in light of the life of Jesus Christ, and how likely it would be for a human to be born that would fulfill all of them exactly. That turns out to be such a reality of long odds that often the premise is pared down to just seven or so specific prophecies. When that 'simplifying' is done, the number comes out to something on the order of 10 to the 36th power. That's 1 in 10 followed by 36 zeros. It looks like this:
Odds that a person would fulfill just seven specific prophecies concerning the Jewish Messiah by chance: 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (see this site for the rundown and the math).
In other words, it would be more miraculous if Jesus WASN'T the Messiah!
Anyway, what about our specific question - Did Jesus indeed claim to be Messiah?
I want to answer that by looking at the last two items I mentioned above for Old Testament prophecy fulfilled by Jesus Christ: the fact that Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner and that He would perform certain miracles.
I'd like to take you to Matthew chapter 11 and show you where Jesus claims to be the Jewish Messiah in no uncertain terms. Now to us, reading all of this 2000+ years after the fact and outside of a first century Jewish context, it doesn't seem like Jesus made this claim as strongly as He actually did. But if you understand that in first century Judea, with the Jews oppressed under the hobnailed boot of Rome and literally looking all over - literally crying out for Messiah - you'll see that He did make this claim and that He did so in a particularly Jewish way.
(In the next section, Jesus answers John through the men that had been sent, but Jesus doesn't simply say "yes". He instead proves His claims in light of what the Old Testament prophesied about Messiah.)
Verse 5 shows us what Jesus did in front of these men. He told them to go back and report to John not just what they heard (from Jesus or anyone else), but also what they saw with their own eyes. And what was that? The literal fulfillment of Isaiah 35:4-6, and Isaiah 61:1-2:
Right in front of these men Jesus performed these miracles. They then left to report back to John the Baptist, and Jesus then turns to speak to the crowd that had also heard His words and witnessed the miracles He had just performed.
Here Jesus gives witness to the fact that indeed John the Baptist was the prophesied forerunner (Malachi 3:1) of Christ Himself, the Messiah. Jesus shows that His ministry follows John the Baptist's below in verses 18-19.
Verse 17: "We played the flute for you (mocking a wedding), and you did not dance; we sang a dirge for you (mocking a funeral), but you did not mourn."
We have this picture of children seeking to illicit certain reactions and being frustrated by their lack of results.
Jesus in verses 18-19 then shows that God did actually meet with them on these terms, but they rejected His offers of salvation. In verse 17 God is basically saying that sometimes the Jews wanted a Godly representative who was happy and playful, perhaps like a King David figure. But at other times they wanted a stern faced, serious leader who was all work and no play - perhaps one like the long line of Old Testament prophets.
In verses 18 and 19 Jesus shows that God in fact met with them on both of these terms but to no avail. No matter what God did, they refused to accept Him.
John the Baptist was the last in the line of the Old Testament prophets. He could in no means have been described as a happy, playful person. He was serious to the nth degree. John, if you will, came as the asked for funeral dirge, but the Jews didn't go along with God's offer.
Jesus on the other hand was much more lighthearted than John. He used a sharp sense of humor in His teachings, and He hung out and ate with those that the religious people shunned. Jesus loved and sought out the company of sinners, so that He could help them. Indeed He came as the asked for wedding - the happy event, but the Jews didn't go along with God's offer.
John came in a decidedly Old Testament manner, neither "eating or drinking" - a Jewish euphemism for enjoying life and what it has to offer. But the Jews accused John the Baptist of being demon possessed because of his severity.
Jesus came differently. He came "eating and drinking". But the Jews said that He was a glutton, a drunk, that he hung out with the enemies of the Jews (tax collectors for Rome), and that he hung out with the enemies of God (sinners).
And lastly Jesus says, "but wisdom is proved right by her actions".
If what He had already said and done wasn't enough, Jesus adds this last part to show that He is Messiah.
Just a question for the ladies. Ladies, say there are two men and they both say they "love you". But one of the men washes himself, his clothes, and his car before he comes to pick you up. He opens the door for you, he puts you in the car and makes sure nothing is in the way of the door before he closes it for you. He buys you dinner. He actually listens to what you have to say. He compliments you and respects you. He drops you back off at home and walks you to the door. He doesn't expect you to 'pay' for dinner in any way. He calls you at odd times during the day just to hear your voice. He thinks ahead about the things you like and tries to have them for you. He respects you enough to tell you gently when he thinks you're wrong or endangering yourself.
Between the two men, one that professes love and one that acts out love - which one really loves you?
Words are cheap. As sinners we should all understand that. But actions are costly. Words are merely pronouncements, but actions show true commitment and a willingness to personally pay for the words that come out of one's mouth.
This is why Jesus not only quoted Messianic prophecy to John's disciples - He actually showed them in the flesh all of the miracles that had been prophesied about Messiah. He didn't want there to be any doubts as to who He was, and He doesn't want there to be any doubts in your mind as to who He is.
In the first century, Jesus put the proclamation of being the Messiah in first century Jewish terms. In the 21st century, He has sent little nerd preachers like me to explain the Bible so that you can understand exactly what He did and Who He was.
He was a human like any of us, but He was also God. He was also the Jewish Messiah and proved it through things that not one of us can control for ourselves, and He proved it in both word and deed.
You need to consider that and listen to what He has to say.
This is a question that pops up from time to time, and frankly that is normal and expected from non-Christian groups.
What isn't expected is for someone purporting to be a Christian pastor to make the claim that Jesus never claimed to be the Jewish Messiah! But just such a claim has been made by pastor John Hagee in a pitch for a new book. You can view a short, 1 minute video here that contains this problematic claim.
To give an answer to this question to someone who claims unbelief in Christ is a great privilege. I have no problem at all with these types of questions because they are a teaching and witnessing opportunity, and to make things even better - this is to people who have been thinking. Sometimes a rare breed indeed.
But I have no idea what John Hagee has been thinking, and frankly that isn't the most important question. The most important question is the one that is the topic of this post: Did Jesus claim to be the Jewish Messiah? Other questions about John Hagee aren't my place to answer, they're Christ's.
------------------
To answer our question one first must discover the things that were supposed to identify the Jewish Messiah. These would be the items of prophecy out of the Old Testament that looked forward to Messiah, and I believe (as an armchair theological historian) they would also have to include what the people and religious leaders believed about Messiah. The first part is the truth as it is from God, but the second item is important because it simply addresses the situation on the ground so to speak in first century Israel. Knowing both of these things helps us put Christ's words and deeds in context.
So to me the question becomes two-fold: In light of Old Testament prophecy & New Testament history, did Jesus claim to be the Messiah? And second, in light of what men and women believed about Old Testament prophecy, did Jesus claim to be the Messiah?
The first is the full and complete answer to our question, but the second answer touches on the issue as to whether or not the folks in first century Israel could have recognized the Biblical Messiah when He appeared based on what He said and did.
------------------
So, what were the things out of Old Testament prophecy that were supposed to identify Messiah? Well, that list is quite a long one and I can't cover all of them (this is a blog post, not a book), but I just want to list several of them and then narrow my focus to show that indeed Jesus absolutely claimed to be the Jewish Messiah, that He did so publicly, and that He did so in a manner that would have been understandable by anyone wanting to know the truth in first century Judea.
Some Prophecies Of Messiah Fulfilled In Jesus Christ (provided and documented in the Hebrew Old Testament over a time-span of 1000+ years)
- That Messiah would be the seed of a woman - or in other words, that Messiah would be human. But His birth would be different. Men carry the seed, women the egg - but in this case God describes the Messiah as being "the seed of a woman". Strange words indeed, and they are an indicator of His virgin birth. (Prophesied in Genesis 3:15 and fulfilled by Jesus in Matthew chapter 1, Luke chapter 2, Galatians 4:4, etc. Basically all of the New Testament)
- That Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham, and of Issac, and of Jacob (in other words, that Messiah would be Jewish), that he would be from the tribe of Judah and also a descendant of King David. It narrows even more in that Messiah was to be an heir to David's throne. (Prophesied in Genesis 12:1-3 (re Abraham), Genesis 17:19-21 (re Isaac), Numbers 24:17 (re Jacob), Genesis 49:10 (re Judah), Isaiah 9:7 (re heir to the Davidic throne). These were fulfilled by Jesus in Matthew 1:1 (re Abraham), Luke 3:34 (re Isaac), Matthew 1:2 (re Jacob), Luke 3:33 (re Judah), Luke 1:32 (re heir to the throne of David), Matthew 27:11 (Jesus admitted He was the king of the Jews - something in this time that could only be true of the Messiah)
- Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. (Prophesied in Micah 5:2 and fulfilled by Jesus in Luke 2:4-7)
- Messiah was to somehow also be called out of Egypt (Mizraim) even though he was to be Jewish and born in Bethlehem. This was a very odd prophetic word when it was given. (Prophesied in Hosea 11:1 and fulfilled by Jesus in Matthew 2:13-23)
- Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner that would prepare the way for Him and His message. (Prophesied in Malachi 3:1 and fulfilled by John the Baptist and Jesus in Luke 7:24-27, John 1:1-8, 19-34 - among others)
- Messiah would speak in parables and perform many miracles. (Prophesied in Psalms 78:2-4 (re parables - about 900+ years before Jesus) and Isaiah 35:3-6 (re miracles - about 700+ years before Jesus), Isaiah 61:1-3 (re miracles) and fulfilled by Jesus in Matthew 13:34-35 (re parables), Matthew 15:30-31 (re miracles), Luke 4:18-19 (re miracles), and many other places - literally the whole of the Gospels.
What I wanted to do first was lay some groundwork so that it would be understood that no person could simply read Old Testament prophecy about Messiah and then fulfill them by their own effort. I hope that was clear in the list above.
Which of us decided our own genealogy? Which of us decided the place we would be born? Which of us decided (as a small baby you understand), that we would be carried off to another nation under dark of night to live as exiles until it was safe to go back home? The answer is, none of us because it is impossible.
There have been statistics published regarding the large body of Messianic prophecies in light of the life of Jesus Christ, and how likely it would be for a human to be born that would fulfill all of them exactly. That turns out to be such a reality of long odds that often the premise is pared down to just seven or so specific prophecies. When that 'simplifying' is done, the number comes out to something on the order of 10 to the 36th power. That's 1 in 10 followed by 36 zeros. It looks like this:
Odds that a person would fulfill just seven specific prophecies concerning the Jewish Messiah by chance: 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (see this site for the rundown and the math).
In other words, it would be more miraculous if Jesus WASN'T the Messiah!
Anyway, what about our specific question - Did Jesus indeed claim to be Messiah?
I want to answer that by looking at the last two items I mentioned above for Old Testament prophecy fulfilled by Jesus Christ: the fact that Messiah would be preceded by a forerunner and that He would perform certain miracles.
I'd like to take you to Matthew chapter 11 and show you where Jesus claims to be the Jewish Messiah in no uncertain terms. Now to us, reading all of this 2000+ years after the fact and outside of a first century Jewish context, it doesn't seem like Jesus made this claim as strongly as He actually did. But if you understand that in first century Judea, with the Jews oppressed under the hobnailed boot of Rome and literally looking all over - literally crying out for Messiah - you'll see that He did make this claim and that He did so in a particularly Jewish way.
Matthew 11:1-19 (NIV) (my notes in parenthesis):(John the Baptist has been imprisoned by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great that had tried to have the baby Jesus killed. It appears that John, as great as he was, is like all of us that possess the Holy Spirit: sometimes we have doubts. John was going through a period of doubt about Jesus and His claims, so he sends his disciples to Jesus to ask this great question: "Are you the one who was to come", meaning the Jewish Messiah - "or should we expect someone else?")
(1) After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
(2) When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples
(3) to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
(In the next section, Jesus answers John through the men that had been sent, but Jesus doesn't simply say "yes". He instead proves His claims in light of what the Old Testament prophesied about Messiah.)
(4) Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
(5) The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
(6) Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
Verse 5 shows us what Jesus did in front of these men. He told them to go back and report to John not just what they heard (from Jesus or anyone else), but also what they saw with their own eyes. And what was that? The literal fulfillment of Isaiah 35:4-6, and Isaiah 61:1-2:
Isaiah 35:4-6 (NIV)
(4) say to those with fearful hearts,“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” (5) Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. (6) Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV):
(1) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (2) to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
Right in front of these men Jesus performed these miracles. They then left to report back to John the Baptist, and Jesus then turns to speak to the crowd that had also heard His words and witnessed the miracles He had just performed.
(7) As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
(8) If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.
(9) Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
(10) This is the one about whom it is written: “ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way before you.’
Here Jesus gives witness to the fact that indeed John the Baptist was the prophesied forerunner (Malachi 3:1) of Christ Himself, the Messiah. Jesus shows that His ministry follows John the Baptist's below in verses 18-19.
(11) I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.Here Jesus shows that John was indeed His forerunner, but He also gives a warning in how these ministries are received. Jesus talks about the then current generation of people that were witnesses to both John's and Jesus' own ministries. Jesus said that this generation of Jewish people, by and large, were like children playing mock weddings and mock funerals.
(12) From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
(13) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
(14) And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
(15) He who has ears, let him hear.
(16) “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
(17) “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
(18) For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
(19) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
Verse 17: "We played the flute for you (mocking a wedding), and you did not dance; we sang a dirge for you (mocking a funeral), but you did not mourn."
We have this picture of children seeking to illicit certain reactions and being frustrated by their lack of results.
Jesus in verses 18-19 then shows that God did actually meet with them on these terms, but they rejected His offers of salvation. In verse 17 God is basically saying that sometimes the Jews wanted a Godly representative who was happy and playful, perhaps like a King David figure. But at other times they wanted a stern faced, serious leader who was all work and no play - perhaps one like the long line of Old Testament prophets.
In verses 18 and 19 Jesus shows that God in fact met with them on both of these terms but to no avail. No matter what God did, they refused to accept Him.
John the Baptist was the last in the line of the Old Testament prophets. He could in no means have been described as a happy, playful person. He was serious to the nth degree. John, if you will, came as the asked for funeral dirge, but the Jews didn't go along with God's offer.
Jesus on the other hand was much more lighthearted than John. He used a sharp sense of humor in His teachings, and He hung out and ate with those that the religious people shunned. Jesus loved and sought out the company of sinners, so that He could help them. Indeed He came as the asked for wedding - the happy event, but the Jews didn't go along with God's offer.
John came in a decidedly Old Testament manner, neither "eating or drinking" - a Jewish euphemism for enjoying life and what it has to offer. But the Jews accused John the Baptist of being demon possessed because of his severity.
Jesus came differently. He came "eating and drinking". But the Jews said that He was a glutton, a drunk, that he hung out with the enemies of the Jews (tax collectors for Rome), and that he hung out with the enemies of God (sinners).
And lastly Jesus says, "but wisdom is proved right by her actions".
If what He had already said and done wasn't enough, Jesus adds this last part to show that He is Messiah.
Just a question for the ladies. Ladies, say there are two men and they both say they "love you". But one of the men washes himself, his clothes, and his car before he comes to pick you up. He opens the door for you, he puts you in the car and makes sure nothing is in the way of the door before he closes it for you. He buys you dinner. He actually listens to what you have to say. He compliments you and respects you. He drops you back off at home and walks you to the door. He doesn't expect you to 'pay' for dinner in any way. He calls you at odd times during the day just to hear your voice. He thinks ahead about the things you like and tries to have them for you. He respects you enough to tell you gently when he thinks you're wrong or endangering yourself.
Between the two men, one that professes love and one that acts out love - which one really loves you?
Words are cheap. As sinners we should all understand that. But actions are costly. Words are merely pronouncements, but actions show true commitment and a willingness to personally pay for the words that come out of one's mouth.
This is why Jesus not only quoted Messianic prophecy to John's disciples - He actually showed them in the flesh all of the miracles that had been prophesied about Messiah. He didn't want there to be any doubts as to who He was, and He doesn't want there to be any doubts in your mind as to who He is.
In the first century, Jesus put the proclamation of being the Messiah in first century Jewish terms. In the 21st century, He has sent little nerd preachers like me to explain the Bible so that you can understand exactly what He did and Who He was.
He was a human like any of us, but He was also God. He was also the Jewish Messiah and proved it through things that not one of us can control for ourselves, and He proved it in both word and deed.
You need to consider that and listen to what He has to say.
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