The Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth

[dark_knight]

Intoduction to this thread

Modern society has scorned the traditional values for at least hundred and fifty years. Some of these values include the Faith and the Church. By having a glimpse of the history of Western Civilization and Christianity (quite the same) makes us not wonder this. Fruit of Roman Catholism and that of Protestantism has been the holocaust of tens of millions in wars, crusades and persecution.

Many have thought that there has to be something rotten in Christianity, and have thus abandoned it wholy. Modern fiction like The DaVinci Code and publication of controversial 'gospels' have found good ground in secular minds of today.

I have been on both sides, seeking and pondering. Praying and cursing.
Finally I found the the Truth of God in His Word which appealed to my rational mind and logic. There is much to learn, yet the essential has been learned by logic and heart and Spirit.

By starting this thread I want to give food for thought to honest minded people and provide what I call facts about the Messiahship (or is it messiaNship??) of Yeshua, son of Maryam, from Nasareth.
I hope other believers will join me in this task, as it takes time and effort.

Furthermore I want to state were I stand. My belief in Jesus rests fully in traditional Canon of the Holy Scriptures, interpreted by logic and reason. I reject the main stream doctrines of "two natures" and "the Trinity", and embrace the sound doctrine of Jesus himself, that Lord our God is One Lord.

If the account of Gospels are true, it is of no small importance where we stand, for Jesus himself said: "This means everlasting life, that you seek to know God and him that He sent (referring to himself)" John 17:3.

[dark_knight]

...and their fulfillment in the life of Jesus according the New Testament

The Messiah was to be born of the Tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:2-16, Luke 3:23-33

The Messiah was to be born of the House of David the king Isaiah 9:7; 11:1-10
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1; 9:27

The Messiah was to be born in the town of Betlehem Micah 5:2
Fulfillment: Luke 2:4-11, John 7:42

The Messiah was to be know for his healing of the sick Isaiah 53:4
Fulfilment: Matthew 8:16,17

The trusted friend of the Messiah was to betray him Psalm 41:9
Fulfilment: John 13:26-30

The Messiah was to be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12
Fulfilment: Mark 14:10,11

The Messiah was to be beaten by his adversaries, unjustly Isaiah 50:6; 53:5,7, Psalm 22:7,8,16; 69:4
Fulfilment: John 15:24,25; 19:3,18,23,34,37


There are much more, but I think that for those who wish to search the truth in this issue, this is suffient to start with. My prayers are, that this may help someone to judge the Scriptural evidence and to become a believer in Jesus, the Lamb of God.
If not, wait for more...

o:)

[Danage]

The word Messiahship is correct. The name of Bethlehem was given in Micah 5: 2 as Bethlehem Ephratheh. Ephratheh is the more ancient name for Bethlehem.

In Isaiah 7: 14 it is stated:
"Behold the Lord himself [Himself] will give a sign. Behold, a young woman [or 'virgin'] shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman’u-el ['Lord with us']"

Immanuel is referenced to be called by name. Yeshuah, however, is not referenced as Immanuel in purely-Christian scripture. Maybe the English translation is a mis-quote, and hence it should say: 'call him Imman'u-el'.
In my opinion these passages give the fullest name of the future Messiah, that being Immanuel Bethelehem Ephratheh. However, as to weather Bethlehem Ephratheh refers to a person or the town is open to speculation once more.

[RabbiBarry]

In order to discuss the question of the Messiahship of Yeshua, one must first become clear about what a Meshiach is. The word Meshiach means anointed one. It comes from the Hebrew word meshach which means to rub with oil. Thus, in order to be a Meshiach one must be anointed with oil. Aaron, the Brother of Moses, was anointed with Oil and became the first High Priest of Israel. He was therefore a Meshiach, because he had been anointed with Oil. Scholars are not sure as to how long it was between the first anointment of a High Priest and the anointment of the first King, but it was at least two hundred years. Samuel the Judge at the direct command of G-d anointed Shaul the Benjaminite to be the first King of Israel. From that time onward, every King of Israel was anointed with oil Therefore, all Kings of Israel are Meshiachot or anointed ones.

Sometime in the period between the return of the Jews from Babylon in 536 BCE and the coming of the Hasmonean Dynasty in 168 BCE, there arose a belief that a perfect King from the Line of David would come to Israel and he would throw out the oppressors, which changed over time, and establish his rule to the greatest extent that any King of Israel had ever done. No person has ever come as King of Israel and carried out the prophecies associated with the Kingly Meshiach. There were two other Meshiachot, or Messiahs, that were predicted. One was the Priestly Messiah who would descend from Aaron and would represent G-d on Earth. The other was an even more elusive Meshiach called the Meshiach of Melchizedek.

Yeshua ha Meshiach believed he was one of these two Meshiachot. He believed he was the Meshiach of Melchizedek. Yeshua was a good Nasorean (Matthew 2:23 says that there was a prophecy that the Meshiach of Melchizedek would be called a Nasorean) As Yeshua was a Nasorean it had nothing to do with the town of Nazareth, which would not exist for another 150 years. He belived as did the Essenes, the Nasorean theologians, that Melchizedek would return. The Coming of Melchizedek (11Q13), one of the books in the Dead Sea Scroll Library, says:

And concerning what Scripture says, 'In this year of jubilee you shall return, every one of you, to your property' (Lev. 25:13) and what is also written, 'And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community (of Nasoreans), because G-d's remission has been proclaimed' (Deut. 15:2): the interpretation is that it applies to the Last Days and concerns the captives, just as Isaiah said: 'To proclaim the jubilee to the captives' (Isa. 61:1) ... just as ... and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, for ... Melchizedek, who will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the jubilee, thereby releasing them from the debt of all their sins.'

In addition to the ability to release the members of the Community of Israel from their sins, Melchizedek had other powers. Melchizedek would fight Satan called in this book and throughout much of the Scrolls, Belial. Quoting from Isaiah 52:7 and Daniel 9:26, the author of the Coming of Melchizedek concludes that the Meshiach of Melchizedek will be like an Archangel and will defeat Satan.

Looking at another book in the Dead Sea Scrolls Library, the Messianic Apocryphon (4Q521) says: "The heavens and the earth will listen to His Meshiach, and none therein will stray from the commandments of the holy ones....Over the Poor (meaning the Nasoreans or Ebioni) His spirit will hover and will renew the faither with his Power. And He will glorify the Hasidim (Essenes) on the throne of the eternal Kingdom. He who liberates the captives (harkening back to the Meshiach of Melchizedek), restores sight to the blind, straightens the bent (Ps. 146:7-8). ... For He will heal the wounded, and revive the dead and bring good news to the Poor (Ebioni) Isa. 61:1)... Thus we seen that in addition to forgiving sins and fighting Satan, the Meshiach of Melchizedek will free captives, restore sight to the blind, heal the crippled, heal the sick, revive the dead, and bring the Gospel to the Poor.

It is clear that Yeshua ha Meshiach did all these things. It is clear that the early Nasorean community believed he did all these things. It is clear from the Letter of Barnabas to the Essene Theologians (commonly called Hebrews) that the early church believed Yeshua was Melchizedek returned. I do not believe that Yeshua is the Meshiach of David. I believe that Yeshua is the Meshiach of Melchizedek. Now that is far more important because it was commonly believed at that time from the books of 1,2 and 3 Enoch that Melchizedek was the ARchangel of the Presence. That would make the returned Melchizedek whom we call Yeshua ha Meshiach, the Archangel of the Presence. That Archangel is says in the Torah can forgive sins (Exo. 23:20). That Archangel is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. That Archangel is YHVH called by some Jehovah.

I believe that the Meshiach expected by the Jews, the Kingly Meshiach, has not yet come. He will come. But Yeshua did not think that he was that Meshiach. He believed that as Melchizedek returned he as the rightful King of Jerusalem and High Priest of G-d Most High, the one called El Elyon or Ain Sof or the Ancient of Days. He is the G-d of Yeshua. Yeshua is the Logos, the Demiurge of Origen, the Archangel of the Presence.

[dark_knight]

Thank you both.

I believe Jesus was "God with Us" (i.e Immanuel) by his adoption to the spiritual Sonhood and God dwelling in him as Holy Spirit, at the point of his baptism. Thus, Immanuel is more a title than a personal name, though titles were sometimes considered as names in biblical times.
I also believe Jesus was Son of God from the birth and as such, full of Holy Spirit, but it was made manifest and official at the baptism and from that point Jesus started his public ministry at the Holy Land.

There is at least one Scripture in the New Testament, where it is referred that Jesus was this Immanuel - Matthew 1:23.

Furthermore, as premillenialist, I believe that the Messiahship of Jesus is fulfilled perfectly after his Second Coming, as he is, being the High Priest (as such, accoriding to Order of Melchizedek), King of Kings and given all power in Heaven and Earth - in function 'God with Us' here on Earth - through the regency of his Son! Like he promised to Dismas at the cross: "Today I say to you: You shall be with me in the Paradise!".
And as it is written in the Revelation of St. John: "Behold, tabernacle of God among men. He lives with them and they are his people." (Rev.21:3)

This of course presupposes that Jesus was indeed ressurected at after three days in Sheol, and that he has ascended to the right side of his Father.

[dark_knight]

I am not good at representing the Prophesy of Seventy Weeks, but I'll provide some links that are good to check out, how it is probable that Daniel predicted the exact date of Messiah!

http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/weeks.htm

http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/daniels_prophecy_of_the_seventy_weeks

http://www.biblestudents.com/clickable_chart_of_the_ages_043004.cfm
http://www.biblestudents.com/htdbv5/htdb0079.htm

[Tannaim]

Salamun alaikum

In Hebrew, Mashiakh or Msheekha in Aramic means the act of annointing olive oil on someone head usually the person of high offices or religious teacher as what has been called to Jesus peace be upon him.
In Arabic, the word Mashiakh or Msheekha corresponds with Masikh from the root word massakh in arabic which means touching or applying something.
I am also practicing annointing oil on my hair and body after washing or ablution during fasting and before each prayers. In my opinion linguistically, the terms mashiakh,msheekha, or masikh merely means annointing oil on hair.
But there is also spiritual meaning which is to avoid hypocrasy in doing charity or holding any post as what has been recorded in St. Matthew chapter 6:17 as an optional act before conducting worship.
As for Emmanuel it was originated from aramic term Umun-eel, as what you already mentioned means God is with us. Through the prophets and messengers that God sent, we feel the sense that God never leaves us. He provided us with guidance with his respective messengers and holy books as the code of conduct together with stories of the people before us as moral teachings. The term in islam La Takhaf wa la Takhzan inna-llaha-ma'ana which means do not afraid and do not be sad, for God is with us shows that God never leaves us, he is very wide with his mercy and even nearer than you have imagined.

God bless and Berakhman-ellah