YESHUA HA MASHIACH

It puzzles me as to why Christians continually refer to the First and Second Comings of Jesus as that of the Messiah, when the word "Messiah" appears only four times in the entire English Bible (Dan. 9:25-26; Jn. 1:41; 4:25). However, the same Hebrew word is also translated "the Anointed," as it appears dozens of times in the Old Testament. The Greek for "Mashiach" is "Xristos" pronounced "Christos," which appears hundreds of times in the New Testament. It is always translated "Christ" which is defined as "the Anointed." It seems more logical to me that we should be referring of the First and Second Comings as that of God's Anointed.

The Old Testament refers to a future appearing of God's Anointed, and the New Testament makes it absolutely clear that it was Jesus of Whom the Scriptures spoke (Lk. 24:27; Jn. 1:45; 5:39). The first and last verses of the English New Testament contain the words, "Jesus Christ." "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1). Matthew wrote to present Jesus as God's Anointed, Who had to be a descendant of Abraham (a Jew), and of David (being of the royal lineage). John wrote: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Rev. 22:21).

In the writings of John, Jesus is presented as God (Jn. 1:1). John identifies Jesus as the Creator (Jn. 1:3). In Revelation, Jesus is recognized as the King of kings, and the Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). Back in Exodus, God told Moses that His name is "YHVH," which is translated "I Am," (Ex. 3:14). Wherever "YHVH" appears in the Hebrew text, it is translated "LORD" in English, with few exceptions (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4). I believe the use of "LORD" in the Old Testament, and "Lord" in the New Testament are referring to the same person: Jesus, God's Son.

The New Testament, therefore, presents Jesus as the "Anointed of God." The word "anoint" refers to smearing or pouring oil over someone or something to sanctify it, that is, to set it apart for God's service. Jesus announced to His people that He was the "Anointed One" spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:17-21). He is the One Israel longed to see, and the One they failed to recognize when He arrived. Israel could not see Him as their long-awaited Savior, because they were looking for a King, and not a Sacrifice. Jesus came the first time anointed to be our "Passover Lamb," but one day, He will return as the anointed "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5:5).

I am not certain that calling Jesus "Yeshua ha Mashiach" or "Jesus the Messiah" matters. Whether or not we say "the Christ" or "the Anointed" probably matters only to theologians. What does matter is that you and I recognize that God chose Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. In any language, Hebrew, Greek, or English, Jesus Christ is proof that God loves you and me. Loving Him back must be done in the universal language of the heart. He is "the Anointed of God," and He is worthy!