Is Jesus Christ the Messiah?
Exploring the Evidence: Is Jesus Christ the Promised Messiah?
For centuries, Jewish prophets spoke of a coming Messiah, a figure who would bring salvation and restoration to Israel. The Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) contain numerous references to the characteristics, life events, and mission of the Messiah. A key issue for some in Judaism is whether the Messiah has already come or is yet to arrive. Many Jews believe that the Messiah will be a political leader who restores Israel as a nation, but the Scriptures also speak of a suffering servant, a redeemer who would take upon Himself the sins of the world.
This article seeks to examine these Messianic prophecies within the Hebrew Bible and show how they were fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus did not merely claim to be the Messiah; His life and actions were in direct fulfillment of ancient prophecies, providing a compelling case for His claim to be the Messianic.
The Promises of the Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures
The Hebrew Bible is rich with descriptions of the coming Messiah. From the book of Genesis to the Psalms, to the prophets like Isaiah and Zechariah, we see the unfolding message of a deliverer who would save Israel and establish God’s kingdom.
To explore whether Jesus is the promised Messiah, it is essential to examine the prophecies in the Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings), and then compare them with the life and ministry of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament.
The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53
One of the most significant Messianic prophecies comes from the prophet Isaiah, particularly in Isaiah 53, often referred to as the passage about the ‘Suffering Servant.’ Some interpretations view this figure as Israel or the righteous remnant of Israel, while others see this as a clear reference to the Messiah, one who would suffer for the sins of the people.
Isaiah speaks of a servant who would be ‘despised and rejected’ and who would ‘bear the iniquities’ of the people. This servant would be ‘wounded for our transgressions’ and ‘bruised for our iniquities.’ For those seeking to understand whether Jesus is the Messiah, this passage is crucial.
Let’s look closely at the prophecies in Isaiah 53 and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus:
Prophecy from Isaiah 53
Old Testament Reference
New Testament Fulfillment
Despised and rejected by men
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:3 – 'He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 1:11 – 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not.'
Bore our griefs and carried our sorrows
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:4 – 'Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 8:16-17 – 'He... healed all that were sick... Himself took our infirmities.'
Wounded for our transgressions
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:5 – 'He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Isaiah 53:5 – 'He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.'
Silent before his accusers
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:7 – 'He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 27:12-14 – 'He answered nothing when accused.'
Taken away and judged unjustly
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:8 – 'He was taken from prison and from judgment... for the transgression of my people was he stricken.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Luke 23:1-25 – Jesus was unjustly tried and condemned before Pilate and the Sanhedrin.
Made his grave with the wicked and the rich
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:9 – 'He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 27:57-60 – Jesus was crucified between two thieves (the wicked) and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (a rich man).
Bruised for our sins
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:10 – 'It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Acts 2:23 – 'Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.'
Justifies many by bearing their iniquities
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:11 – 'By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Romans 5:18-19 – 'By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.'
Numbered with the transgressors
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:12 – 'He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
Luke 23:32-34 – 'Jesus was crucified between two criminals and prayed for His executioners.'
Messianic Lineage and Birth Prophecies
The Hebrew Bible also provides prophecies regarding the lineage and birthplace of the Messiah. The Messiah was foretold to be a descendant of King David and born in the town of Bethlehem. These details are not arbitrary; they are part of God’s divine plan revealed through the prophets.
Let’s examine how these prophecies align with Jesus’ life:
Prophecy from Isaiah 53
Old Testament Reference
New Testament Fulfillment
Born in Bethlehem
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 53:3 – 'He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows.'
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 1:11 – 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not.'
Descendant of King David
Old Testament Reference:
Jeremiah 23:5 – ‘I will raise unto David a righteous Branch.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Luke 1:32 – ‘The Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David.’
Born of a virgin
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 7:14 – ‘A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 1:22-23 – ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child…’
Further Fulfilled Prophecies
In addition to the prophecies in Isaiah 53 and regarding Jesus’ birth, the Hebrew Bible provides a number of other Messianic prophecies. Let’s look at how they were fulfilled in Jesus’ life and ministry:
Prophecy from Isaiah 53
Old Testament Reference
New Testament Fulfillment
Born of a Woman
Old Testament Reference:
Galatians 4:4 – ‘God sent forth His Son, made of a woman.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 1:11 – 'He came unto his own, and his own received him not.'
Herod’s Massacre of Infants
Old Testament Reference:
Jeremiah 31:15 – ‘Rachel weeping for her children.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 2:16-18 – ‘Herod… slew all the children in Bethlehem.’
Called out of Egypt
Old Testament Reference:
Hosea 11:1 – ‘Out of Egypt have I called my son.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 2:14-15 – ‘Out of Egypt have I called my son.’
Anointed by the Holy Spirit
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 61:1 – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Luke 4:18-19 – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to preach the gospel to the poor.’
Performs Miracles
Old Testament Reference:
Isaiah 35:5-6 – ‘The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 11:4-5 – ‘The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk.’
Enters Jerusalem on a Donkey
Old Testament Reference:
Zechariah 9:9 – ‘Behold, thy King cometh unto thee… riding upon an ass.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 21:1-5 – ‘Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass.’
Betrayed by a Close Friend
Old Testament Reference:
Psalm 41:9 – ‘My own familiar friend… hath lifted up his heel against me.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 13:18 – ‘He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.’
Sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver
Old Testament Reference:
Zechariah 11:12 – ‘They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Matthew 26:14-16 – ‘They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.’
Pierced Hands and Feet
Old Testament Reference:
Psalm 22:16 – ‘They pierced my hands and my feet.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 20:25 – ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails…’
Soldiers Cast Lots for His Garments
Old Testament Reference:
Psalm 22:18 – ‘They part my garments among them, and cast lots.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 19:23-24 – ‘The soldiers cast lots for his garments.’
No Bones Broken
Old Testament Reference:
Psalm 34:20 – ‘He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
John 19:33-36 – ‘They did not break his legs… that the scripture should be fulfilled.’
Resurrected from the Dead
Old Testament Reference:
Psalm 16:10 – ‘Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.’
New Testament Fulfillment:
Acts 2:31 – ‘His soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption.’
Conclusion: Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Messianic Promises
The search for the Messiah has been a central hope for all Israelites for thousands of years. The Hebrew Scriptures are rich with prophecies and promises of a redeemer who would restore Israel, bring peace, and heal the broken relationship between humanity and God. For some, the coming of the Messiah remains a future hope. However, the life of Jesus of Nazareth, as recorded in the New Testament, provides a compelling fulfillment of the prophecies found within the Hebrew Bible.
The Christian Israelite Church teaches that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who was foretold by the prophets. His life, death, and resurrection are seen as the fulfillment of the Scriptures, particularly the prophecies concerning the suffering servant, the descendant of David, and the one who would establish God’s kingdom.
For our Jewish brothers and sisters, this conclusion may raise important questions: Could the Messiah come not just as a conquering king, but also as a suffering servant? Is it possible that the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures point to a Messiah who would first offer redemption through suffering, and later return in glory?
We believe that the life of Jesus offers an answer to these questions. By fulfilling prophecies like those in Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2, and Zechariah 12:10, Jesus embodied both the hope of Israel’s redemption and the path to reconciliation with God. The Christian Israelite Church invites those seeking to understand the Messiah to explore these Scriptures further, with an open heart and mind, and to consider the possibility that Jesus of Nazareth may be the Messiah who was long awaited by Israel.
In the end, we stand on common ground: the belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the hope of the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Learn More
If you want to learn more about the Messiah and how Jesus Christ fulfills these prophecies, we invite you to reach out. Contact us for more information or join one of our discussions to explore this important topic further.
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