[I
wrote this condensed essay 5 years ago (to be specific on 2nd
February 2015). One can write a thick book on it, but I attempted to prove it
within just 1300 words. I decided to let the Scripture convince you by these
many references. I hope this will be a good resource for anyone who wants to
think through this issue. And for my blog readers, remember to visit this post
again, when you have a question about it; or when you hear people talking about
Jesus and OT; Christianity and Judaism.]
A
SHORT CONDENSED ESSAY ON:
“JESUS IS THE MESSIAH PREDICTED
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT”
Judaism
and Christianity believe that the Old Testament is Scripture that comes from
God. We believe that God is the God of the Old Testament. We believe what it
says, what it teaches and what it prophesies. We believe that the Old Testament
reveals clearly about Messiah (such as in Daniel
9:25-26). Judaism believes that Messiah had never come yet, and is
waiting for His coming. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that Jesus is
the Messiah who had walked on the earth 2000 years ago. He came as the fulfillment
of the OT prophecies, and ascended to heaven, and will come back for His
people. Therefore, Christians, too are waiting for the second advent of Christ.
The 1st Century Judaism fails to recognize the Messiah in spite of
His bodily appearance and His claims. The present Judaism still fails to search
the Old Testament in the light of the Christian New Testament. Having said
this, even many Christian fail to see Christ in the Old Testament. So this
short essay will prove that Jesus is the Messiah predicted in the Old
Testament.
WHO
AND WHAT MESSIAH IS: Messiah in Hebrew is “mashiyach”
(Ps. 132: 17) which means “the anointed”. In
Septuagint, it is translated as “Christos” which the New Testament recognizes
Jesus as Christos (or Christ, in English). The Old Testament portrays Messiah
as the extraordinary king (Jer. 23:5),
as the son of man (Daniel 7: 13; Isaiah 7:14),
as God (Isaiah 9:6), as Son of God
(Ps. 2:7), as Savior (Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12). Thus Messiah is the God-Man
(also in Psalm 110). The New Testament
understanding of the Messiah is exactly the same (John
12:13; John 1:51; John 8:58; Matt. 14:33; Luke 2:11; John 10:30) and is
fulfilled in Lord Jesus Christ. He is the second Person of the Triune-God, whom
Christians worship, and He is the God of the Bible, both Old and New
Testaments.
GENEALOGICALLY:
Messiah would be the descendant of ABRAHAM (Gen
22:18). Here, the seed is the Messiah, through whom the nations of the
world shall be blessed. In the New Testament, Gal.
3:16 proves that as Jesus Christ. It is also seen in Matt. 1:1. Messiah would be the descendant of ISAAC
(Gen.21:12; 17:19). Isaac is not the only
son of Abraham, yet God chose Isaac to be the line of the coming Messiah. The
everlasting covenant is possible because Messiah is the everlasting Lord. Matthew 1:2 proves that Jesus is the descendant of
Isaac. Messiah would be the descendant of JACOB (Num24:17). He would be a deliverer, protector, a scepter of
Israel. Jacob (not Esau) was chosen from the womb (Gen
25: 23). Matt. 1:2 proves Jesus
again. He would be from the tribe of JUDAH (Gen.
49:10). Shiloh is the Messiah to whom the peoples shall obey. Luke 3:33 proves that Jesus is from the tribe of
Judah. Messiah would be the descendant
of DAVID (Ps. 89:35-36). He would be
the heir of David’s throne, for David’s throne to last forever. Matt. 1:1 proves that Jesus is the descendant of
David.
GEOGRAPHICALLY:
Messiah would come from BETHLEHEM (Micah5:2).
He would be the Ruler from everlasting to everlasting. No human comes from
everlasting, only God-Man, the Messiah. Luke 2:4-7 tells
that Jesus was born at Bethlehem. Messiah would come to JERUSALEM riding
in a donkey (Zech. 9:9). Jesus made a
triumphant entry to Jerusalem according to John
12:12-15. Messiah would come to the TEMPLE (Malachi 3:1). Jesus went into the temple in Matthew 21:12. Messiah shall be in the GALILEE
(Isaiah 9:1, 2). Jesus began His ministry in
Galilee (Matt. 4:18-25).
CHRONOLOGICALLY:
The Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) promised
in the Eden Garden is the expected Messiah. Adam and Eve in their holy
condition cannot stand against Satan’s temptation, nor would any of their
children stand in their fallenness. A perfect man, the Messiah can and has to
fulfill the promise. Jesus was born of a woman conceived by the Holy Spirit in Matthew 1:20. He was born at the right time
according to Gal. 4:4. Jesus is the promised
Seed of the woman because He is the Son of God. Shem, the son of Noah was
blessed, and God is adored by Noah as the God of Shem. Noah and his family were
the only survivors of the flood. Luke 3:36 traces
Jesus as the descendant of Shem, not of Ham or Japheth. God chose Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3) for the lineage of the Messiah. All
the nations shall be blessed through him. Before the Israelite enter the
Promised Land, Moses talked about the future prophet, whom they must
listen (Deut. 18:18-19). The Israelite knew
Moses as a deliverer, so the Messiah too will be the deliverer. As the
revelation progresses, the prophets spoke that the deliverance is a spiritual
one. Then God chose David to be the lineage of the Messiah. Then Davidic
throne (Jer. 23:5), Jeremiah prophesied
about the coming king, Messiah. Jesus is recognized by the people of His times
as the Son of David (Matt. 20:30; 22:42).
Messiah was promised right from the Eden garden through His Birth in Bethlehem
(Micah 5:2; Luke 2:15).
THROUGH
HIS BIRTH AND NATURE: The Messiah would be born of the virgin
woman (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was born of
Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-35; 2:7-11). Messiah
is God (Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44; 26:64) since
there is only one God, therefore, Jesus is God, the Messiah of the Old
Testament’s promise. The coming of the Messiah would be preceded by a messenger
(Isaiah 40: 3-5). Jesus was preceded by John
the Baptist (Luke 7:24, 27). Moses predicted
the coming Prophet in Deut. 18:18-19,
who is the Messiah. Jesus was recognized by the people of His days as Prophet (Luke 7:16). The Messiah would be the Priest
forever (Ps. 110:4). Jesus has become the
High Priest forever (Heb. 7:14-18).
THROUGH
HIS MINISTRY AND WORKS: The Spirit of the LORD
will be upon the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1; 42:1).
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16;
John 1:32). Messiah will heal the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1, 2). Jesus proves Himself to be the
Messiah in Luke 4:14-22. Messiah will
perform miracles (Isa. 35:4-6; 53:4-5).
Jesus performed miracles (Matt. 9:35; John 11:47).
Messiah will speak to people in a parable (Ps.
78:2). Jesus came speaking in parables (Matt13:34).
Messiah will be betrayed by His friend (Ps.
41:9). Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot (Luke
22:48). Messiah will not defend Himself (Isaiah
53:7). Jesus spoke no words when He was accused (Matt. 27:12). Messiah will be pierced (Zech. 12:10). Jesus’s side was pierced (John 19:34). Messiah will be numbered with transgressors
(Isaiah 53:12). Jesus was crucified with
robbers (Matt. 27: 38). Messiah will have a rich
tomb (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus was buried in
a rich man’s tomb (Matt. 27:57-60). Messiah
will be resurrected (Ps. 16: 8-11; Hosea 6:2).
Jesus got resurrected (Acts 2:25-35).
Messiah will be ascended unto heaven (Ps.
68:18). Jesus was ascended unto heaven (Luke
24:51).
There
are still many more proofs in the Bible that I have left out to show Jesus is the Messiah predicted
in the Old Testament. Lord Jesus Christ will come back very soon. Christians,
Jews, Non-Christians, Atheist, everyone will see that He is the Messiah, Lord,
and God of all creations. And every knee shall bow and every tongue shall
confess that Jesus is Lord. Why not confess today and be saved?