THE MESSIAH!
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye ( PROVOST)
Messiah means “ the anointed one” or “ the chosen one.” An annointed person is that one who has been consecrated or set apart for a particular role in the Christian Faith. An annointed person therefore does specific purposes for God in the world. For example in the Old testament, people were anointed for the position of prophet, priest and King. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the predicted annointed one, chosen by God for deliverance or redemption of His people (Isaiah 42:1, 61:1-3)
In the New Testament Jesus of Nazareth was and is the prophesied Messiah (Luke 4:17–21; John 4:25–26). John 20:31 proves that the annointed Jesus Christ performs miracles that were recorded in the Bible. “These [miracles] are written 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). Matthew 16:16 also testifies that Jesus Christ is the annointed one son of God. Acts 10:39–43 talks an eye witness testimony to His resurrection and the fact that “he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Jesus rose from the dead because he was the annointed one of God.
Jesus Christ being the messiah fullfilled the role of the Prophet. He preached the word of God and he is the word himself as revealed in John 1:1–18. He was also an annointed Priest because he is involved in the forgiveness of our sins through His death on the cross to save human beings. His blood in the process was shed to wash away our sins. Jesus Christ is the annointed King because after resurrection God gave all authority as seen in John 18:36 and Ephesians 1:20–23.
Acts 1:6 shows us how the Jews had gone through a lot of suffering under the people ruling their nation. When they heard that Jesus was the messiah they thought that he could rule by setting up an earthly kingdom to overthrow the Roman government but he did not use that method as king. Instead he was a humble Godly leader who was later understood as in his life after resurrection, Luke 24:25–27. The priority was first to deliver people spiritually from sin then later deliver them from their physical oppressors and enemies. (John 8:31–36, John 12:32; John 3:16, Isaiah 9:1–7).
Christ the annointed one of God sent to deliver us from sin and oppression is ready to embrace everyone who comes to him in repentance. Hove you given your life to Christ? He is indeed the messiah all in all, the Prophet, saviour, Priest and King.
The Very Reverend Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye,
Provost.