Both Muslims and Christians believe that Jesus is al Masih, the Messiah. Yet, Muslim interpreters seem to be uncertain of the meaning of name. In this article, together we will look at the origin of the word Messiah. Then, we will look at some of the uses in the Word of Truth. Then we will ask what the title tells us about Jesus. I invite you to think along with me.
The Origin Of The Word Messiah
Al Masih is Arabic for “Messiah.” Messiah and al Masih are transliterations of the Hebrew word, mashiah (מָשִׁיחַ). This word means “anointed.” We want to determine the meaning of the Quran’s name for Jesus. So, let us look together at the history and usage of anointing and the word Messiah.
What does anointing mean?
“To anoint” means to pour olive oil on something or someone. Ceremonial anointing symbolized that God had chosen a person for a certain task or role. Anointing also suggested that the anointed person would have the power of God’s Spirit to do his task.
Who was anointed?
In the Old Testament the Hebrews anointed prophets, priests and kings. Anointing showed that God had chosen these people to fulfill their roles. This anointing of persons for specific roles is the basis for the role of an Anointed One (al masih) who would come later.
Al Masih: The Anointed One
One of the most important passages about the Anointed One is Daniel 9:24-27. God sent the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Daniel (Dānyāl). Gabriel came to reveal the time when the Anointed One would come, and what would happen to Him. Daniel received this prophecy approximately 530 years before the birth of Jesus.
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty–two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty–two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.” (Daniel 9:24–26 TNIV).
We need to see three important things about this prophecy. First, Daniel’s prophecy sets the time of the Messiah’s arrival. The time coincides with the lifetime of Jesus al Masih, son of Mariam. This is no surprise for those of us who already know that Jesus is al Masih. The second thing is that al Masih would “put an end to sin.” Al Masih came to break the power of the devil. He came to set you and me free from the power of sin. He came to forgive our sin (“atone for wickedness”). Third, God says that al Masih would be “cut off.” That is, he would be “killed.” Let’s remember that background information, while we look at the Injil.
Christ means “the Anointed One.”
In the New Testament, the word “Christ” represents the same idea as the word “Messiah.” For an example, you can see this in John 1:41. So, when the Injil calls Jesus son of Mariam, “Christ,” He is being called “the Anointed” — al Masih.
The title “Christ” connects Jesus with the themes of the Anointed One in the Old Testament. Let’s look at how those ideas appear in the New Testament. We will see that the title “Christ” connects Jesus with important roles or functions. Let’s look at two of these roles.
The first idea is that the Messiah was expected to be a prophet. The words of a woman whom Jesus met at a well in Samaria reflect that expectation. “The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.'” (John 4:25-26 ESV). Jesus the Messiah was a prophet, as you already know. Yet, He was more than a prophet, also.
Second, the title Christ also shows that Jesus is God, since He is the Messiah. I realize that this is shocking to you, my dear friend. But my friend, this is what the Old Testament prophecies required. The story of Jesus’ trial in front of the Jewish High Court is proof of this understanding. The High Priest was questioning Jesus. The high priest said, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63 TNIV). The High Priest expected the Messiah to be the Son of God!
My friend, please realize that when the Bible says Jesus is the Son of God, it does not mean in a physical sense. God did not have a physical or sexual relationship with Mariam. This idea offends both Muslims and Christians. The title “Son of God” means that Jesus is divine by nature. He is a Person of the One True God.
This would be the perfect opportunity for Jesus to end any false ideas about Himself, would it not? If He was not the Son of God, it would have been easy for al Masih to say so! Yet, how did Jesus answer the High Priest? Jesus declared the truth about Himself. Jesus said, “You have said so… But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” (Matthew 26:64 TNIV)
Jesus said, “You have said so.” He answers the High Priest’s question with a strong “Yes!” The meaning of Jesus’s words is, “Yes! And you have said the truth with your own mouth!” Jesus could not have said that He is the Son of God in any stronger way. Perhaps you have heard some Muslims say that that they would become Christians if they could see just one place where Jesus clearly says He is God. Well, this statement is as clear as it can be.
Now, as you read Matthew 26:64, the phrase “Son of Man” may jump out at you. You may wonder how could Jesus be God when He calls Himself the “Son of Man?” My friend, that is a good question! In fact, the title “Son of Man” adds to the truth of Jesus’ deity. When Jesus calls Himself “Son of Man,” He makes His claim to deity even stronger. But the title requires a little explanation. “Son of Man” is taken from another prophecy of the Messiah, Daniel 7:13-14.
Daniel 7:13 introduces the Son of Man in a vision. Three ideas in this text show that the Son of Man is a divine person.
First, the Son of Man arrives on the scene riding on the clouds. “[A]nd there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven…” Only God rides on the clouds. Psalm 104:3 says God “…makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind…” If the Son of Man comes with the clouds, He is a divine person.
Second, the Son of Man receives “authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him” (Daniel 7:14 TNIV). Some translations may say “serve him.” The Hebrew word translated “serve” means “to serve in worship.” If the Son of Man should receive worship, then He is a divine person.
Third, the Son of Man receives an everlasting dominion. “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14 TNIV) This means that His rule lasts forever. If He is eternal, the Son of Man is a divine person.
So the clouds, serving Him in worship, and His eternal nature show that the Son of Man is a divine person. Jesus called Himself the Son of Man eightytwo times in the Injil. He was claiming to be this Divine Person.
So, the title “Christ” points to Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. He is the Anointed One, the Son of Man, and the Son of God. But also, the title “Christ” required something from Jesus.
The Messiah Must Die
After His resurrection, Jesus Himself said that the Christ was prophesied to suffer and die. It was necessary to bring God’s plan to a victorious conclusion. Here is what al Masih said: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead…” (Luke 24:46). The next passage presents this idea, too.
In Acts 17:3 we see that the Old Testament prophecies required the Messiah to die and rise again. Paul, the apostle of Jesus, talked to a group of Jews about Jesus. He reasoned with them “explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,’” he said” (Acts 17:3 TNIV). The Apostle Paul did not invent death and resurrection of al Masih. The Old Testament prophesied the death and resurrection of the Messiah centuries before Paul was born.
In his writings Paul connects Jesus’ death and resurrection with the Old Testament prophecies. “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4 TNIV)
The Messiah had to Rise From the Dead
Some Muslim friends feel that if Jesus was killed by the Jews, then Jesus would have been a failure. This feeling misses the fact that Jesus’ death opened the way to even greater successes and victories. First of all, Jesus rose victoriously from the dead. He is the greatest winner in history! He destroyed the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14). He is exalted to highest position of honor in the universe (Acts 2:32–36). He was declared to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4). And, He was given the right to raise those who believe in Him from the dead without a judgment (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). His death was terrible, but it was not a defeat. It was a massive victory! Here is how a poet summed it up:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human being,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11 TNIV)
The Messiah Died To Give Life to You and Me
Jesus died and rose again so that He could give us a loving personal relationship with God. Knowing God is what eternal life means (John 17:3). Eternal life also includes the joyous certainty of living with Him for eternity. The Apostle John wrote his Gospel “… that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31 TNIV). Jesus Christ, al Masih, is the one who gives eternal life.
What Do You Believe?
To summarize, the title Christ or al Masih connects Jesus with the Old Testament theme of anointing. Official anointing meant that God had chosen a person for a task or role.
Jesus is al Masih, the Anointed One. Jesus came to earth at the time foretold by the Prophet Daniel. He came to die, as Daniel foretold. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again according to the Scriptures. The title “Christ” means that Jesus is deity. “Son of Man,” His favorite name for Himself, also points to Him being divine.
He gives eternal life to those who trust in His deity, His death and His resurrection.
Jesus asked His followers a question: “Who do you say I am?” Peter gave the answer for them all: “’You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:16–17 TNIV).
My friend, may I ask you, who do you say that He is?