Proof that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Christ (Messiah)

Proof that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Christ (Messiah)

I. Signs in Heaven and on Earth

1. Signs from the Father

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, ESV)

This passage is from Isaiah 7:14 in the Old Testament. Matthew also quotes this verse in Matthew 1:23 of the New Testament, confirming the fulfillment of the prophecies of the prophets at the birth of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ.

This verse has extremely important significance in Christian faith:

⑴ Words and Symbolism

Sign: A supernatural and extraordinary mark or sign given by God to confirm His promise.

Virgin Birth: Symbolizes the birth of the Messiah (Jesus (Yeshua)), free from the original sin of mankind, a miracle of conception entirely by the Holy Spirit.

Immanuel: This is a Hebrew name meaning "God with us."

⑵ Historical and Theological Background

Historical Background: King Ahaz of Judah was facing invasion from the combined forces of Aram and Israel and was filled with extreme fear. The prophet Isaiah, commanded by God, went to comfort him and asked him to ask God for a sign, but Ahaz hypocritically refused. Therefore, the prophet proclaimed the sign of "Immanuel," given by the Lord Himself, declaring that God would personally protect His people.

⑶ Ultimate Fulfillment: Centuries later, the birth of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ. Jesus (Yeshua) came into the world and saved humanity from sin, truly fulfilling the promise of "God with us."

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:18-21, ESV)

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

   “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel” (Matthew 1:22-23, ESV)

2. Shepherds in the Wilderness, Hearing the Angel's Testimony

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”(Luke 2:8-12, ESV) This passage, from Luke 2:8-12 in the New Testament, is one of the most classic and heartwarming scenes in the Christmas story: an angel bringing good news to the shepherds. It connects to the prophecy in Isaiah mentioned earlier—the baby called "Immanuel" was finally born at this moment.

(1) Why "Shepherds"?

In Roman and Jewish society at that time, shepherds were a lowly, humble, and often marginalized group. However, God's "joyful message" of salvation was first shared not with kings, officials, or religious leaders, but with these shepherds sleeping in the fields. This demonstrates that the salvation of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is humble and open to all.

(2) The stark contrast between "The City of David" and "The Manger"

"The City of David" refers to Bethlehem (the place where the prophet Micah prophesied the Messiah's birth). This highlights Jesus (Yeshua)' noble lineage from the Davidic royal family, making him the promised king.

"The Manger" is not the birthplace of a king. The humble manger contrasts sharply with His noble identity as "Savior, Christ the Lord," showing that He came into the world not to be served, but to serve and to identify with those who suffer.

(3) The meaning of this "sign"

The angel said, "This will be a sign to you, that you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." This echoes your previous statement that "the Lord himself will give you a sign (sign)." This sign is very unique because there may be many newborns in Bethlehem, but absolutely only one baby will be wrapped in cloths and sleeping in a manger used for feeding livestock. Upon witnessing this extraordinary sight, the shepherd immediately recognized, "Yes, this is the Savior the angel spoke of!"

3. The Wise Men from the East Saw His Star and Came to Jerusalem to Search for Him

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: (Matthew 2:1-5, ESV) This passage, from Matthew 2:1-5 in the New Testament, recounts the famous story of the "wise men from the east searching for the star of the king of the Jews." This account, together with the previous two passages (the prophetic prophecy and the shepherds' overnight stay), forms the most complete picture of the Christmas narrative.

(1) A stark contrast between two "kings": Herod the Great: He was a puppet king of the Jews appointed by the Roman Empire, extremely power-hungry, and inherently cruel and suspicious (historically, he even killed his wife and three sons to secure his throne). When he heard that someone was "the born king of the Jews," he felt his throne was threatened and was therefore "uneasy."

Jesus (Yeshua) Christ (the true anointed king): He is the true King of peace, born in a humble manger, fulfilling prophecies.

(2) The irony of "the whole city being uneasy": The people of Jerusalem were "uneasy" because they knew Herod the Great's cruel methods. Any potential threat to his power would often be met with bloody suppression (the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem did indeed occur). The people's fear reflected the darkness and oppression of the political atmosphere at the time.

(3) The Irony of the "Religious Elite (High Priests and Scribes)"

When Herod asked, "Where must Christ have been born?" the high priests and scribes immediately and fluently replied: In Bethlehem of Judea (quoting the prophecy of Micah 5:2 in the Old Testament).

This creates a profound irony: The wise men from the Gentiles: traveled great distances, enduring the hardships of the people, just to see the stars and seek out and worship this king.

The high priests and scribes: possessing the most precise biblical knowledge, knowing perfectly well the location of the Messiah's birth, yet they remained indifferent and apathetic; not one of them was willing to make the journey (Jerusalem to Bethlehem is only about 10 kilometers) to see it for themselves.

II. Jesus (Yeshua)' Own Testimony

1. Jesus (Yeshua)' Testimony at the Synagogue in Nazareth After Being Tempted in the Wilderness

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21, ESV) Here, Jesus (Yeshua) returned to his hometown of Nazareth and publicly read aloud the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue. This passage is the declaration of Jesus (Yeshua)' Messiah identity: Jesus (Yeshua), through the statement "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me," reveals to everyone present that he is the "Anointed One" (i.e., the Messiah, the Christ) foretold in the Old Testament.

Immediately following these verses, Jesus (Yeshua) rolled up the scroll and utters a statement that shocks the entire assembly: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”(Luke 4:21, ESV), officially commencing His ministry.

2. Private Revelation to the Samaritan Woman (The Most Direct Verbal Confession)

This is the first time in the four Gospels that Jesus (Yeshua) actively and explicitly confesses to someone that he is the Messiah, and the recipient is a Samaritan woman who was rejected by Jewish society at the time. 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) This gripping dialogue comes from John 4:25-26, and is the climax of the famous conversation between Jesus (Yeshua) and the "Samaritan woman" at Jacob's well. This passage holds an extremely special place in the entire Bible for several profound reasons:

(1) Jesus (Yeshua)' extremely rare "active disclosure of his identity"

In the four Gospels, Jesus (Yeshua) is usually very discreet about his identity as the "Messiah" (theologically known as the "Messiah secret"), often instructing his disciples or those healed not to publicize it. However, facing this Samaritan woman who was of low social status, had a bad reputation, and was looked down upon by the Jews, Jesus (Yeshua) unreservedly and directly acknowledged her: "This is the one who is speaking to you!"

(2) The Declaration of "I am he"

In the original Greek, Jesus (Yeshua)'s "this is the one" is literally translated as "I am" (Ἐγώ εἰμι / Egō eimi). This is not merely an answer to "I am that person," but also echoes the divine name God revealed to Moses in the burning bush in the Old Testament—"I AM WHO I AM" (I AM WHO I AM). Here, Jesus (Yeshua) not only acknowledges himself as the Messiah but also alludes to His divinity.

(3) The Grace That Breaks Down Barriers

This dialogue broke down three major barriers of the time:

Gender barrier: Rabbis (teachers) at that time typically did not engage in long, private conversations with women in public.

Racial barrier: Jews and Samaritans had a historical feud and did not interact with each other. Moral Barriers: This woman had five husbands, and the man she was currently living with was not her husband; she was marginalized in society at that time.

Yet Jesus (Yeshua) revealed to this most incredible being the most central secret of the Kingdom of Heaven, the redemptive hope that all humanity had awaited for centuries.

3. Peter's Great Confession (Confirmation of the Core Circle of Disciples)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17, ESV).

"Jesus (Yeshua) said to him, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered him, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus (Yeshua) said to him, '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 16:15-17) (1) The Core Confession of Faith

Peter's answer precisely proclaimed Jesus (Yeshua)' dual identity:

"You are the Messiah": "Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah," meaning "the anointed one." Peter acknowledges that Jesus (Yeshua) is the King and Redeemer prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, the one the Israelites have been eagerly awaiting.

"The Son of the living God": This transcends the expectation of a political Messiah, directly proclaiming Jesus (Yeshua)' divinity. He is not merely a great prophet or political leader; He shares the same essence as God the Father.

(2) "Simmon-Jonah" and Spiritual Revelation

Jesus (Yeshua) here addresses Peter as "Simmon-Jonah" ("Jonah" means "son of Jonah"), a very formal title. Jesus (Yeshua) then points out a crucial point:

"For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven." This statement reveals the essence of faith: One's true recognition of Jesus (Yeshua) as Lord is not solely through human intelligence, logical deduction, or theological study (which are flesh and blood), but through the grace of the Father and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Human reason has its limits, but God's revelation transcends these limitations.

4. Through Various Miracles and Wonders

Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. (John 7:31-32, ESV) This tense passage comes from John 7:31-32, and takes place during one of the most important Jewish festivals—the Feast of Tabernacles. Jerusalem was in turmoil at this time, and these lines precisely depict the wavering of the masses and the growing anxiety and murderous intent of the religious authorities as they gradually lost control.

(1) The Rationality and Wavering of the Masses: "Will there be more?" This group of people who "believed in Him" ​​built their faith on highly convincing empirical evidence. Having witnessed the numerous miracles performed by Jesus (Yeshua) (healing the lame man after thirty-eight years, granting sight to the blind, feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, etc.), they raised a very realistic and logical counter-question:

"Even if the real Messiah came, would He be able to perform more or more awe-inspiring miracles than this man before us?" This statement indicates that Jesus (Yeshua)' identity and power had become so powerful that the masses could not ignore him, and it even began to challenge the long-standing official denigration of Jesus (Yeshua).

(2) The Fear of the Ruling Class and "Inter-factional Alliance"

When the Pharisees heard the crowd "talking amongst themselves" (the original text implies whispering or murmuring), they felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. Therefore, the Pharisees joined forces with the chief priests.

This is a very unusual and ironic phenomenon:

Pharisees: Strictly adhering to the law, mostly religious zealots among the populace.

Chief priests (mostly Sadducees): Belonging to the ruling faction and political elite of the Temple, secular in thought, and politically ingratiating to the Roman government.

These two factions, normally irreconcilable on theological and political grounds, surprisingly set aside their long-standing feud and reached a consensus to formally send officers (temple guards) to arrest Jesus (Yeshua), all for the common threat of "getting rid of him." This foreshadowed the later tragedy of cross-factional collusion among religious leaders during Jesus (Yeshua)' crucifixion.

5. A Statement to John the Baptist

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:2-6, ESV).

This moving and theologically significant dialogue comes from Matthew 11:2-6 (also recorded in Luke chapter 7). The most poignant part of this passage is that the questioner is none other than John the Baptist, who himself baptized Jesus (Yeshua), witnessed the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, and proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God!" When this great prophet was imprisoned, he too experienced genuine bewilderment.

⑴ The Great Prophet's Spiritual Darkness: "Is that you?" John the Baptist was then imprisoned by King Herod in the dark and oppressive prison of Machaerus. He sent his disciples to ask, "Shall we wait for someone else?" for two main reasons: The torment of his situation: Facing a cold prison cell and impending death, even a man of great faith experiences moments of weakness, weariness, and wavering.

John the Baptist's Prophetic Messiah

The Messiah is the righteous king who holds a winnowing basket, burns away chaff with unquenchable fire, and brings fiery judgment (Matthew 3:11-12). However, the Jesus (Yeshua) John heard was everywhere eating with sinners, healing the sick, casting out demons, and preaching grace. John began to wonder, "Why hasn't this Messiah used his power to judge the wicked (like Herod) or rescue me from prison?"

(2) Jesus (Yeshua)'s Wonderful Response: Speaking with "Scripture" and "Facts"

Faced with John's doubt, Jesus (Yeshua) neither rebuked him nor directly answered "Yes, I am," but instead asked John's disciples to report back what they had heard and seen.

The six things Jesus (Yeshua) listed (the blind seeing, the lame walking, the leper being cleansed, the deaf hearing, the dead rising, and the gospel for the poor) precisely referenced the prophecies in Isaiah about the Messianic era (Isaiah 35:5-6, 61:1).

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

    “Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

    will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

    He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

    and streams in the desert;

(Isaiah 35:4-6, ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;[a]

    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]

 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

    and the day of vengeance of our God;

    to comfort all who mourn; (Isaiah 61:1-2, ESV)

Jesus (Yeshua) is essentially saying to John, "John, look at these miracles and the gospel. Although I have not brought the political trial you expected, I am doing what the Messiah truly should have done in the Old Testament prophecy. The Kingdom of God has begun in another way, bringing healing and salvation."

(3) A gentle reminder: "Blessed are those who do not stumble because of me."

"Stumble" in the original text means "to be tripped up, to be rejected because of misunderstanding." Jesus (Yeshua) knew that his way of working (as a suffering servant, not a political or military king) would challenge the expectations of everyone at the time.

This was Jesus (Yeshua)' deepest and gentlest comfort to John: "John, do not lose faith in me because my actions do not conform to your expectations. Even in prison, even if there are things you cannot understand now, you will be blessed as long as you continue to trust in me."

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