Our Verses: Matt 11:3- John the Baptist's followers asked Jesus- “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
Matt 26:63 A high religious leader demanded, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Strong Questions about a messiah! Messiah means the anointed one. Our Lord Jesus has the title of Christ. These 2 words-Messiah and Christ are synonyms. Both describe one who is to come; One above all others sent by God to heal and repair the world. When Jesus came to earth, His people, the Jews, were expecting the Messiah. There were clear Bible references to this. But...they had a different idea of what the Messiah would do. Their messiah was a king who would conquer Rome. Even his disciples thought this. Acts 1:6 They didn't understand the Old Testament reference to the death of the Messiah for his people. Isa 53. They engaged in wishful thinking- their goal was freedom from their oppressors and that couldn't happen if the Messiah died.

Jesus had a different mission, a two part mission- first to redeem mankind through His death and resurrection; the second, to prepare mankind for His coming Kingdom. (we'll explain that in the next episode) Jesus Christ came as Messiah of all mankind, not just Israel. He would first die to pay for the sins of mankind and later... come back as King. On the day of His death the high religious leader demanded, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said “I am”. Mark 14:62

In summary, Both the ancients (men like Moses Deut 18:15 and Daniel 9:25) and Jesus contemporaries knew a Messiah or Christ was coming. All the prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Messiah. Next time, Messiah Part 2- Time to Decide!