THE MESSIAH


A. "ONE OF THE TWO WHICH HEARD JOHN SPEAK, AND FOLLOWED HIM, WAS ANDREW, SIMON PETER'S BROTHER. HE FIRST FINDETH HIS OWN BROTHER SIMON, AND SAITH UNTO HIM, WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH, WHICH IS INTERPRETED, THE CHRIST." - JOHN 1:40, 41
  1. Our test brings to light the finding of the Messiah by Andrew, Simon's brother:
    1. That was the most wonderful discovery anyone can make!
    2. Dear reader, you are a reader of the Bible, have you discovered the Messiah? - John 5:39
  2. Andrew shared his faith:
    1. He was not self-centered, but ready to share his faith with others - Acts 1:8, 9
    2. He began his missionary activities with his own relatives at home.
B. THE MESSIAH
  1. Meaning of the word "Messiah":
    1. The word "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew verb "mashach" which means to anoint, and therefore is the Anointed one.
    2. In the Hebrew practice, anointing was particularly connected with the consecration of kings, priests, and prophets - Judg. 9:8; 1 Sam. 16:12, 13; Ps. 89:20; 1 Ki. 1:45; 2 Ki. 11:12; Ex. 28:41; 29:7; 1 Ki. 19:16; Isa. 61:1
  2. The anointing was the crowning acts attended by the people with great solemnity:
    1. The office of the king - Judg. 9:8
    2. The office of the priest - Ex. 28:41
    3. The office of the prophet - 1 Ki. 19:16
  3. Of special interest to us is that the office of the Messiah includes:
    1. The office of the Prophet - "The Lord said unto me . . . I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee" - Deut. 18:17, 18; John 7:40; "And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee" - Matt. 21:11
    2. The office of the High Priest - "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" - Heb. 3:1; "Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" - Heb. 6:20
    3. The office of the King - "I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion" - Ps. 2:1-12; "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle" - Ps. 24:7-10; "He will sit upon the throne of his father David" - Luke 1:31-33
C. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE MESSIAH
  1. The interpretation of the Jews:
    1. They limited the office of the Messiah to that of a prophet and a king, but excluded the office of a priest. That office was limited to the tribe of Levi, and Christ came from the tribe of Judah - Mi. 5:2; Heb. 7
    2. They limited the office of the Messiah to their own nation; to them the Messiah was to be the Saviour of their nation from other nations.
  2. But the Bible concept of the Messiah is, indeed, threefold:
    1. He is the Prophet of all prophets - John 1:1-3; Matt. 17:5; Heb. 1:1-3
    2. He is the High Priest of all priests - 1 John 2:1- 3; 1 Tim. 2:5; His office is universal.
    3. That is true, also, of His office as King of kings and Lord of lords.
  3. The office of the Messiah concerns itself:
    1. With the problem of sin, which is universal - Rom. 3:23; 5:12
    2. The restoration of character and universal harmony - Eph. 1:8-11; 2:11-16; John 15:16; 17:1-22
    3. The defeat of the adversary - Gen. 3:15
    4. The destruction of death - 1 Cor. 15:26, 50-57
    5. The bringing back the first dominion - Mi. 4:8
    6. These are some of the assignments of the Messiah; they are the mission of the Son of God to which He addressed Himself with His whole being - John 9:4- 6.


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