Jesus The Messiah

Who is Jesus? This seemingly simple question is perhaps one of the most profound and consequential inquiries that we can ponder. The answer to this question has the power to shape our worldview, inform our choices, and ultimately determine the course of our lives.

Throughout history, many have grappled with Jesus' identity. Some view Him as a great moral teacher, others as a revolutionary figure, and still others as a myth. But what if Jesus is more than all of these? What if He is, as He claimed, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the true King of the universe?

The Gospel of Matthew provides us with deep insights into Jesus' identity. It presents Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of centuries of prophecies and promises. The word "Messiah" in Hebrew, equivalent to "Christ" in Greek, means "the anointed one" or "the chosen one." This title signifies that Jesus is the one chosen by God to accomplish His plan of salvation for humanity and the world.

But what does it mean to be Jesus the Messiah? As its core, it means that Jesus is the answer - not just for the people of His time, but for us today. He is the answer to our deepest longings, our most pressing questions, and and our greatest needs. As the Messiah, Jesus is our helper, our friend, our comforter, and our guide through life's complexities. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes two key aspects of Jesus' identity as the Messiah: Savior and King. As our Savior, Jesus came "not to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). This salvation is not just about providing physical needs or healing, though Jesus certainly did both. More fundamentally, Jesus came to save us from our sins.

This truth can be challenging to accept. Many of us struggle to recognize our need for salvation, believing that we can manage on our own. However, the reality is that we fall short of God's perfect standard. The good news is that God, in His infinite love, saw our need and sent Jesus to bridge the gap between us and Him. Through faith in Jesus, we can be restored to a right relationship with God - the only relationship that can truly give us life.

Recognizing Jesus as Savior means acknowledging Him as our hero. He is the one who rescues us not only from our sins but also from our guilt, shame, fears, and anxieties. In Him, our weary souls can find rest.

But Jesus is not only our Savior; He is also our King. This aspect of His identity can be even more challenging to accept. Jesus calls His followers to "give up your own way, take up your cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). He's not asking for mere intellectual assent or casual commitment. He's calling for a complete surrender of our lives to His lordship.

This call to total commitment can feel daunting. Like the rich young man in Matthew 19 who walked away sad because he wasn't willing to give up his possessions to follow Jesus, we might hesitate to yield everything to Christ. It's often easier to accept Jesus as Savior than as Lord and King of our lives.

Yet, Jesus is both Savior and Lord. We cannot cherry-pick aspects of His identity that we find comfortable and ignore the rest. The question is: are we willing to trust Him with our whole lives?

The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, provides a powerful perspective on this. He reminds us of God's unfathomable wisdom and knowledge, emphasizing that everything comes from God, exists by His power, and is intended for His glory. In light of this, Paul pleads with believers to offer their bodies - their whole selves - as living sacrifices to God.

This call to complete surrender might seem extreme at first glance. However, when we truly understand who Jesus is and what He's done for us, we begin to see that surrendering to Him is not a loss but the greatest gain. Jesus, as our Creator and Redeemer, knows what's best for us. His plans for our lives far exceed anything we could dream up for ourselves.

Recognizing this truth can be transformative. When we understand that Jesus is calling us to something infinitely good - to the very purpose for which we were created - surrendering to Him becomes not a burden, but a joy. It's not about giving up our dreams; it's about embracing a dream far greater than we could have imagined. As we wrestle with the question "Who is Jesus?" , we're invited to look beyond surface-level answers and cultural assumptions. We're challenged to consider the claims that Jesus made about Himself and the testimony of those who knew Him. Could it be that He truly is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the rightful King of our lives?

If Jesus is who He says He is, then the implications are staggering. It means that in Him, we can find true hope, meaning, and purpose. It means that no matter what we're facing - whether it is guilt over past mistakes, fear about the future, or a sense of emptiness in the present - Jesus is the answer.

The invitation Jesus extends is not to a life of restriction or boredom, but to a life of adventure, purpose, and deep fulfillment. It's an invitation to know and be known by the God who created us, to experience His love, and to participate in His grand plan for the world.

As we ponder these truths, may we have the courage to honestly examine our hearts. Who do we say Jesus is? And more importantly, how will we respond to His call? The answers to these questions could change everything.