Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Messiah and the Lord of all.
The Bible, God's living Word, clarifies that Jesus is the promised savior.
In the Old Testament, prophecies foretell Jesus' life and ministry--from His miraculous birth to His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
In John 3:16-17, Jesus Himself confirms He is the fulfillment of all these prophecies: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." As a result, all authority has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18).
By faith, we proclaim Jesus as our Lord, believing in His love and grace, trusting in His promises, and striving to obey His commands.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
This title carries special significance: it is a declaration that Jesus was the promised savior, prophesied to one day come and deliver the world from evil.
The belief that God sent Jesus to be an example of love and forgive all those who do wrong makes him the Messiah.
To better understand what this means, we should look at Bible verses such as Matthew 1:21 and Isaiah 9:6-7, foundational passages in understanding Jesus’ role as the Messiah.
Before His birth, the prophets of the Old Testament declared the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophecy reads, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
This was fulfilled through Jesus' mother, Mary, a virgin who gave birth to the son of God.
Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and become a "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
These characteristics were all true of Jesus when He was born, living out his life as a teacher sent from God.
Micah 5:2 declares that the ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem.
Again this prophecy was fulfilled through Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Jesus is not only King of Heaven but also King of our hearts; His name is above all else.
These prophetic words from the Old Testament spoke of Jesus long before He entered this world, and every one was fulfilled through Him.
We can take comfort in knowing that these prophecies are proof of the power of Christ.
In conversation with a Samaritan woman, Jesus referred to Himself as the Messiah.
When she asked, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” He replied, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:25-26).
Through this encounter, Jesus made known His identity as the promised Messiah.
Jesus also spoke directly and unambiguously to the Jews in nearby Jerusalem when they accused Him of having no testimony (John 8:18). He declared, “Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).
This statement revealed His identity as a divine being existing since before Abraham, thereby equating Himself with Yahweh.
By affirming his identity as the Messiah through these Scriptures, Jesus established and sealed His claim.
Jesus amazed the crowds with His miracles. He healed the sick, helped the blind to see, and even raised the dead.
The greatest blessing was when Jesus forgave a paralyzed man's sins – something only God can do (Matthew 9:1-8).
In another instance, Jesus brought a widow's son back to life. When He entered the town, many mourners followed her, and Jesus was moved with compassion (Luke 7:1-10).
With just a word, He restored the boy to life and delivered him to his mother.
These examples demonstrate that Jesus had power and authority beyond any other human being, proving that He is indeed the Messiah.
No one else has exhibited such spectacular miracles, which serve as evidence of His divine calling – just as it says in Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy."
The Old Testament states that a Messiah would come to save the people of Israel.
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy countless times, showing that He was indeed the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1-2 prophesied a ruler from the line of Jesse who would be wise and powerful: Jesus fit this description perfectly with His acts of wisdom, healing, and miracles.
Psalm 110:1-4 also predicted that the King would have an eternal kingdom; Jesus proved His reign is forever through his death and resurrection.
Finally, Daniel 9:25-26 foretold that a ruler would come who would bring peace and end sin.
Only through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross have we been freed from our sins, and we can experience true peace in Him.
Jesus meets all of the qualifications of being the Messiah according to these Old Testament prophecies.
He is the King who has brought us salvation and restored us to fellowship with God.
His own people rejected Jesus. It was a prophecy from centuries earlier, outlined in the Old Testament scriptures of Isaiah 53:3 and Deuteronomy 18:18.
Jesus made it clear that He was sent for both sinners and believers alike, yet He faced rejection, dismissal, and persecution. Despite coming as a savior to all, Jesus was scorned and shunned by those He came to help.
Isaiah 53:3 it is written, "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain." This prophecy foretold the suffering and pain that Jesus would face at the hands of humanity.
In Deuteronomy 18:18, God promised to raise a prophet like Moses, yet his people brought suffering when they welcomed Him.
Jesus knew the sorrows of rejection intimately. But His mission was not without purpose - He was our ultimate example of hope and grace in the face of adversity.
We can take comfort in God's promise that anyone who trusts Him will never be rejected; no matter how deep your scars or mistakes are, you will always find love in His embrace.
Jesus came to earth and showed us a way of life that honored God.
Through his teachings, he showed us how to be reconciled to God. He was obedient even unto death on the cross, showing us the price of sin.
He conquered death by rising from the dead and proved to be the promised Messiah. Jesus is indeed our Savior and Lord.
Matt LaClear
Author