Messiah is a word with a lot of historical significance, as well as religious importance. Here is what it means and how to use it today!
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Kevin
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February 10, 2022
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Messiah Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It
Religious belief and faith are some of the most characteristic parts of humanity. Over the centuries and millennia, priests, pastors, and other religious leaders have led these belief systems and guided entire nations along with them. Out of these beliefs and people, one person is almost frequently recognized and lauded as an essential religious figure — Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus’s impact on the world is mainly seen through his impact on Judaio and Christian philosophy throughout the world. The best way to understand who Jesus was and what he stood for in the Bible is through the word Messiah. It’s a word that describes the mission, meaning, and story of Jesus, as well as the Bible as a whole.
Here is what Messiah means, where the word comes from, and how this word is essential to the Bible:
What Does Messiah Mean?
The Messiah is the main focus of the storyline of the Bible. According to the Hebrew Bible and many dictionaries, the Messiah is the promised and expected deliverer and savior of the Jewish nation, as promised by God Himself. Throughout the Old Testament of the Bible, the Messiah is expected, and the nation of Israel is preparing themselves for his arrival.
In the New Testament, the Messiah arrives in the form of Jesus Christ, and through him, the Jewish people, and by extension the entire world, is saved from eternal separation from God in death.
In a broader context, the word messiah is also commonly used to describe the savior, leader, or liberator of a group of people, cause, or nation. Messianism is often symbolically attributed to influential leaders, referencing the example of Jesus Christ.
Where Does the Word Messiah Come From?
The etymology of the word messiah is based on the Aramaic and Hebrew word Mashiach or māšīaḥ, which means “anointed” or “anointing.” This comes from the prophecy at the beginning of Genesis in the Bible that a savior would come who was anointed by God. This savior would bring judgment to Satan and redeem the world. He was the promised deliverer of the world and would bring order and peace to everyone and everything.
The Messiah has always been a massive part of Jewish culture and has become the foundation of almost all Christian beliefs throughout history and in the modern world. Various prophecies and prophets in the Bible indicated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and a descendant of King David. All throughout the Old Testament, Jesus was foreshadowed and anticipated by all of the nation of Israel.
What Is the Story of the Messiah in the Old Testament?
In the third chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, the Messiah was promised by God to Adam and Eve to pay for their sin and the sin of humanity at large. As time went on, God promised Abraham that the redeemer of the world would come through his bloodline and family. Abraham’s family was the foundation of the nation of Israel, and out of his obedience to God, Judaism itself was born.
Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, the Jewish Messiah is foreshadowed and prophesied about by many people, including Moses, Aaron, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Daniel, Isaiah, and more. After he defeated Saul, King David was told that the Messiah would come through his family, which meant that his family would be the kings of Israel for all of eternity. There are countless references and prophecies regarding what Jesus did, who he would be, and more throughout the Old Testament in books like Isaiah, Leviticus, Psalms, and Zechariah.
What Is the Story of the Messiah in the New Testament?
The New Testament starts with four similar accounts of the life and story of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), called the Gospels. They each recount the story of Jesus Christ as the Son of God in ways that would make sense to different people groups in their time.
In these accounts, Jesus is born in Bethlehem in a very lowly place, surrounded by sheep, shepherds, and other more marginalized members of society. As he grows up and becomes a man, he is given the title of Jesus of Nazareth due to his family moving to Nazareth. Around the time that he turned thirty years of age, Jesus got baptized by John the Baptist and began his ministry in the land of Israel.
Throughout his time in Israel, Jesus acquires a large following due to his radically powerful teaching and impact on the people who hear it. He develops a close group of friends and workers known as the Apostles and does many miracles and actions that prove that he is the Son of the Living God.
His teachings about being a servant to all and understanding the Bible in a more powerful way are despised by the High Priest of the Hebrews at the time, and he is declared a false Messiah.
Following that, Jesus is killed for his teachings and belief by the Jews. However, the resurrection of Jesus shows that death is defeated, and the whole world can be saved from eternal death through his sacrifice. In the Christian belief, this indicates that Jesus is the Messiah due to his redemption of the whole world.
Conclusion
The story of Jesus as the Messiah is one of the most impactful stories in the history of the world. Jesus has been recognized as a significant historical figure by countless faiths and religions, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims. His impact on the world by filling the role of the Hebrew messiah has left a massive mark on the planet.
Effective communication is one of the best ways to increase your ability to succeed in the world, and The Word Counter is here to help you do exactly that! If you want to learn about more words and concepts that have shaped the world as a whole, feel free to check out our blog here at The Word Counter! We’re constantly adding new articles that help explain words, phrases, and grammatical concepts that are harder to comprehend.
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