Is Jesus the Messiah?

from the old testament

• “Messiah” means “anointed one,” the person chosen by the Lord to rescue His people and reign in righteousness. From the beginning, Scripture pointed toward a royal deliverer from Judah’s tribe who would rule the nations (Genesis 49:10). As time went on, the promise narrowed to someone in David’s line, specifically an eternal ruler (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Psalms depicted this anointed ruler receiving the nations and reigning with God’s authority (Psalm 2). Isaiah expanded the hope to a worldwide, endless kingdom rooted in justice and peace (Isaiah 9:6–7).
• The details were specific, making it easier to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah later. For example, Micah identified Bethlehem as the birthplace (Micah 5:2), Isaiah stated He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and Jeremiah said He would come from David to lead God’s people (Jeremiah 23:5–6). These and other markers set clear expectations that any true claimant must meet.
• In addition to location and lineage, the Messiah was also to be a prophet. Moses said God would raise a prophet like him, and the people were commanded to listen to him (Deuteronomy 18:15–18). Additionally, He was to be a priest. Speaking of the Messiah, David wrote, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4).
• Suffering was at the core of the Messiah’s promised salvation. Isaiah described the Servant who would bear sin, be pierced, and bring peace to many, summarizing the effect: “with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4–6). God planned to address guilt, justify the ungodly, and then exalt the Servant (Isaiah 53:10–12).
• Israel’s celebrations also taught something about the Messiah’s role in salvation: Passover symbolized deliverance through a perfect substitute; Firstfruits foreshadowed life from the dead; Pentecost honored the harvest; Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths pointed to repentance, cleansing, and God dwelling among His people (Leviticus 23). The prophets linked these hopes to a future reign where nations come together to learn God’s ways, and mourning turns into repentance (Micah 4:1–7; Zechariah 12:10).
• In summary, the Old Testament outlined numerous details and expectations for the Messiah. He would be Prophet, Priest, King, Servant, and Savior. The Old Testament concluded with Israel still waiting for this Man to arrive.

from the new testament

• The New Testament begins with the announcement of the Messiah. Matthew’s purpose for writing was to show that Jesus was the Messiah. He starts his Gospel by tracing Jesus’ lineage through His adopted father, Joseph, back to David (Matthew 1:1–17). He then later mentions His birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1–6).
• Luke demonstrated how Jesus fulfilled the Messianic promise of being conceived by a virgin (Luke 1:26–35). Meanwhile, the author of Hebrews referenced the connection to the tribe of Judah, stating, “it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah” (Hebrews 7:14), quoting Psalm 110:4.
• Similarly, the angel told Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31–33).
• Besides His lineage and birthplace, the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would be a savior. Matthew recorded the angel’s words to Mary: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
• Jesus also publicly aligned Himself with Isaiah’s Messianic hope. After reading Isaiah 61 about the Spirit-anointed servant who brings good news, He declared that this Scripture was fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:18–21). His authoritative teaching, healings, and power to free the oppressed demonstrated that He was fulfilling the mission Isaiah described (Luke 4:16–19; Matthew 11:2–6).
• The Messiah was also expected to serve as a priest. Hebrews explains that Jesus fulfilled this role through His once-for-all sacrifice and ongoing intercession, applying Psalm 110 to Him: “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17). Unlike the Levitical priests, His perfect life and death truly secured forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 7:23–28; 10:1–18).
• The expectation of a royal Messiah is also fulfilled in Jesus. He was hailed as “King of the Jews” at His birth and crucifixion (Matthew 2:1–2; 27:37). He affirmed His kingship before Pilate and promised to reign on His glorious throne in judgment and renewal (Mark 15:2; Matthew 19:28; 25:31). As David’s Son, He embodied and fulfilled the promises of David’s everlasting dynasty (Matthew 21:9; 22:41–46).
• The Messiah’s path also involved suffering, death, and vindication. The Gospels’ passion accounts closely mirror Isaiah 53. Philip explained that passage was referring to Jesus, and Peter described Him as the Servant who bore sins and set an example of faithful suffering (Mark 15; Matthew 27; Acts 8:26–35; 1 Peter 2:21–25). His resurrection confirmed that He truly was the promised one who would triumph after suffering.
• Israel’s feasts also find their fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah. Paul wrote that “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed,” showing that His death accomplished the deliverance pictured in Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). He also called the risen Christ “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep,” linking His resurrection to the feast that anticipated new life from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). At Pentecost, the Spirit’s outpouring marked the beginning of a worldwide harvest of nations (Acts 2). The future trumpet, final atonement, and the promise of God dwelling with His people all point to His return and Israel’s ultimate salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Romans 11:25–27; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 21:3). In every feast, the reality foreshadowed in the Law is fulfilled in Christ.

implications for today

Calling Jesus “Christ” is to acknowledge that He is the Messiah—God’s anointed King, Priest, and Prophet. He is the one who fulfilled every promise and who will return to complete God’s plan. The appropriate response is to trust Him for forgiveness and to embrace His good rule in every area of life, confident that His words and ways lead to peace.

This truth provides deep comfort. Because He is the true Priest, you don’t need to carry guilt—His sacrifice completely ensures forgiveness and restores a clear conscience (Hebrews 10:12–14). Because He is the true King, your future is secure—He will bring renewal to a broken world, and fear will not have the final word (Revelation 21:1–5). Because He is the true Prophet, you have solid ground in a world of shifting voices—His words are reliable, and you can trust them with confidence (Matthew 7:24–25).

If you do not yet believe in Him, turn to Him today: believe that He died and rose for sinners, and confess Him as Lord (John 3:16; Romans 10:9). And if you already belong to Him, keep listening to His voice, keep turning from sin, and keep rejoicing—your Messiah is faithful, and He will finish the work He began.