What does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah?

Jesus Christ.

Chances are that you have at some point heard of this name and person at some point in your life. If you are a Christian, this is the focal being of your faith. You may know the meaning of the name Christ, or you may think it is just his surname! Unfortunately I have found that many have taken the later position, or simply have never given it thought.

Christ is the English form of the Greek word christos, which itself is a translation of the Hebrew word mashiach, meaning 'anointed one'. This is not a name nor a surname, but rather a title.

In the Tanakh (Old Testament), prophets, priests, kings, and holy spaces where anointed, or set apart for a specific calling or purpose. Anointing something made it sacred and holy to the Lord/ This anointing with olive oil represented the Spirit of God coming upon someone or something, empowering for the task appointed by God. Israel is called the anointed one (I Chronicles 16:21-22), King Saul was called the anointed one by David (I Samuel 24:6), David himself is known as an anointed one (Psalm 89:20), and even Cyrus King of Persia is called anointed (Isaiah 45:1)

So where do we get the understanding of an 'ultimate' Messiah?

In II Samuel 7, we read of a covenant God makes with David and his house. David sought in his heart to build a permanent dwelling place for the Lord, seeing that this was fitting to be done. God appears to Nathan the prophet and makes a promise to David, that not him, but his son would build a house for the Lord, and that God would establish the dynasty of David forever, and that the kings after him would be called the Son of God. Up until this point, Israel had yet to see the establishment of a lasting monarchy. Saul was first appointed to be king, but when he sinned God rejected his house forever, and his son did not sit on the throne after the. David was established in Saul's place because he was a man 'after God's own heart'. For this reason God chose the House of David forever.

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Psalm 2:6-7

After David died, Solomon his son reigned in his place and built the Temple. Solomon did not walk in the way of the Lord as did his father, and turned to other gods. His sin set off a sequence of events that led to the division of Israel, destruction of the Temple, exile, and end of the Monarchy. God began to send prophets would spoke of an ultimate 'Son', one who would reestablish the Throne of Israel (Amos 9:11), gather and united the exiles of Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12), bring salvation to the nations (Isaiah 49:6), and establish an everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 9:7)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7

This Messiah also had a unique component about his nature. While at first glance appearing only as a human, the prophet Daniel sees a heavenly vision that seems to question this notion:

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14

This passage makes us question the nature of the Messiah and his origins. Though appearing as a human being, he enters into God's space, riding the clouds of heaven, and receiving authority to be served (better translated as worshipped) by the nations of the earth. How could a mere mortal be exalted to share the same authority and space as God?

Further readings of the Tanakh pose another complication regarding the Messiah. In one verse, He is coming with the clouds of Heaven (Daniel 7:13), yet in the next He is riding lowly upon a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). In another verse He is destroying the enemies of Israel (Isaiah 11:14), while in another He is crushed by God, bearing the sins of His people (Isaiah 52:13-53:12.) He rules and reigns forever on one hand (Isaiah 9:7), but is poured out unto death on the other (Isaiah 53:8, 12).

When Jesus makes His first sermon at a Synagogue in Nazareth, He claims the title of the anointed one, referring the prophecy of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

By quoting this scripture and applying it to himself, Jesus was very intentional in His purpose. This was His first public claim to be the Messiah, and was prepared to demonstrate it to Israel. The New Testament well documents the miracles and teachings of Jesus, and it was very clear that He knew who He was. He announced the coming of God's kingdom and gave clarity and full understanding to the Torah, all things the Messiah was prophesied to do. In addition, He united this tension between the human nature and seemingly Divine nature, and made several shocking claims to be the God of Israel. The Father Himself spoke from Heaven and claimed Jesus to be His Son. He gave full meaning of what it meant to be the Messiah and what He would do. He taught His disciples that while He would indeed rule as King, He would also be rejected by Israel for a time, and that this rejection would lead to salvation. Jesus would first subject himself to death upon a cross, carrying upon himself the sins of the world. By doing this, He became God's Passover Lamb. By rising from the death and defeating it forever, He not only demon stated Himself as King Messiah, the Eternal King, He offers his victory to all who would believe. By doing this, He made it possible to enter into God's Kingdom and the Messianic Age.

So what does it mean that Jesus is the Messiah? It means that He is the King of Israel and the Nations, God in the Flesh, the One who became an offering for sin, and the One who come again to judge all flesh and rule from David's Throne in Jerusalem.

...regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3-4