Messiah in the Old Testament

Messiah in Old Testament

The Messianic prophesies and their fulfillment

The history and tradition of the predictions of a Messiah can be found in many passage of the Old Testament. The Messiah is in most instances closely related to the purpose that God has in the world. These prophesies and intimations about the Messiah start with the first book of the Bible and there are many references to the coming of a Messiah in the earlier books of the Old Testament, before the more extensive references to the Messiah in the book of Isaiah

For a long time before Isaiah was born, the Hebrews had believed Yahweh's purpose in the world would be realized through them and it involved their establishment in the land of Canaan as the leading nation of the world. The achievement of this goal would be brought about under the leadership of men who would act as Yahweh's agents or representatives among them.

Patterson 213)

It is also an important part of the discussion of this subject to be aware of the complexities and problematics of a direct and overly simplistic linkage between Old Testament prophetic statements about the Messiah and the image and message of Jesus Christ in the New Testament texts. As the above quotation indicates, the Old Testament Messianic vision is largely related to the future history of the Jewish people and has historic and political connotations. While these problematics are largely outside of the parameters of this study as such, yet it is also important to take note of the fact that important Old Testament prophets like Isaiah saw the Messiah in possibly a different light to the way that Jesus is portrayed in the New Testament. For example, a study of the prophecies of Isaiah by Patterson (1953) states the following.

The most important of Isaiah's messianic prophecies are found in Chapters 9:1-9, and 11:1-9, although there are many other passages in his writings which reflect the messianic idea. A careful study of these writings does not indicate that the prophet had in mind any particular individual who would appear at a later time. Because Jesus of Nazareth was regarded by later generations as the long-promised Messiah of the Jewish people, it is easy to see why so many persons have supposed that Isaiah was writing specifically concerning Him.

Patterson 213)

Patterson and other scholars state that the prophets of the Old Testament in referring to a Messiah were rather speaking in general terms and with reference to a certain social and political dispensation rather the to an individual. "Hence, they looked for a Messiah who would come at some future time." (Patterson 213) In this sense the Messiah was seen in the context of a Jewish King who would govern Israel in Jerusalem.

The following quotation summarizes this typical Old Testament view of the Messiah as one who will have political and social intentions.

The Messiah is he who shall restore Israel as a people, free her from her enemies, rule over her as king, and bring other nations under her political and religious sway. This conception of the future king as a this worldly political figure is clearly and explicitly present in most if not all of the passages in the Old Testament which refer to him.

Mowinckel 8)

There are also various contrary views to the above in the literature. In essence the point being made is that there are many problematic issues that surround the theological relationship between the teachings of Christ in the New Testament and the Old Testament Messianic vision. For example, as Mowinckel (1954) states, there many instances were the teachings of Jesus seem to be in contrast to the Messianic ideals of the Old Testament. "But the very fact that Jesus related His teaching both positively and negatively to the Messianic ideas prevalent in later Judaism shows that He did not adopt them just as they were. The Gospels depict Him as constantly in conflict with certain aspects of the Jewish Messianic ideal which was in the minds of His disciples." (Mowinckel 9)

This particular study goes on to raise many problematic areas of theological discourse that relate to questions about the correspondence between the Old Testaments Messianic visions and the New Testament. "What was the historical origin of these unusual, and possibly new, elements in Jesus' thought of the Messiah? Is it possible that, in His conflict with the Jewish Messianic ideal, Jesus adopted other biblical or late Jewish ideas which had, perhaps, originally no connection with the figure of the Messiah, and combined them with the Jewish Messianic ideal, that He might use it to express His own thought of His person and vocation?" (Mowinckel 9)

These complex issues are mentioned only as background to the present study, as the discussion of these aspect lies outside the aims and parameters of this paper.

What this study wishes to show is that notwithstanding the many theological debates and arguments, that there is a large body of evidence to show that the New Testament writings can be seen as the direct fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophesy.

There are hundreds of statements and prophecies in the Old Testament which have echoed and are directly fulfilled in the New Testament. This also refers to events and aspects that could not have been contrived and which are verifiable in the New Testament - such as the prophecies about the death of Christ.

As Mowinckel states:

Nevertheless it was above all to the Old Testament that the early Church turned for evidence in support of its belief that Jesus was the Messiah. In the thought and theology of the early Church (if it is legitimate to speak of a theology at that period) the Old Testament was the ground and source of the conception of the Messiah. A survey of Messianic conceptions in later Judaism, in the teaching of Jesus, and in the early Church must therefore of necessity begin with the Old Testament.

Mowinckel 3)

This paper will therefore attempt to review some of the most significant and important prophecies and statements about the Messiah in the Old Testament and discuss these in order to show how they were fulfilled in the writings of the New Testament.

2. Old Testament Messianic prophesies

In the Old Testament, also known as the Tanakah, there are more then 300 various prophecies relating to the Messiah and which can be linked to the New Testament scriptures. Obviously only a few of the most pertinent of these can be dealt with in this paper.

As mentioned above, it must be borne in mind that a general characteristic noted by commentators which affects our view of the Messianic prophecies is that in the Old Testament the coming of the Messiah often has an historical and political connotation. This is explained by the relationship of the term messiah to the terms 'anointed one' and Kingship.

The expression 'the Anointed One' does not occur in the Old Testament as a technical term for the Messiah. On the other hand, 'the Anointed One', or 'His', or 'My Anointed One' does occur as the ceremonial religious title of the reigning king in Israel, king 'by the grace of God'... It is, however, obvious that there must be a historical connection between the two titles... The word 'Messiah' is an abbreviation of the fuller expression, ' Yahweh's Anointed'. This shows that the eschatological Messiah derived his name from the sacral title of the ancient kings of Israel.

Mowinckel 7)

There is a tendency to see the Messiah in a political sense in the Old Testament. Although this point will be borne in mind it does not fall within the parameters of this study; yet it is an important aspect that should be understood in terms of the relationship between the Old and New testaments and in the perception of the figure of Christ and His teachings.

Genesis and early prophetic statement in the Old Testament

As stated, there are hundreds of references to the Messiah and correspondences to the New Testament and Jesus Christ. The following is an overview of the most significant and important of these prophetic views. These will be discussed in essay format in order to maintain the flow and continuity of various central thematic strands; which will be compared to the New Testament in the following section. A chronological order with regard to the books of the Old Testament will be maintained in this section. However, slight deviations from this chronological structure were found to be necessary at times to allow for the explanation of certain thematic trends

2.1.1. Lineage

Lineage and bloodlines and other statements and references to the heritage and hereditary nature of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament form an important part of the revelation of the Messiah. The first allusions to the Messiah can be found in Genesis. These also related to prophesies that are fulfilled in the New Testament. For example, the words that God addresses to the serpent in the Garden of Eden are seen by many commentators as the first reference to the Messiah. In Genesis 3:15, God said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." According to some biblical experts, this is an oblique reference to the coming of Messiah.

This is taken by many as one of the earliest Messianic prophecies describing Satan's brief victory over the Messiah and the Messiah's ultimate victory over Satan. It is mentioned here because the offspring (Messiah) is described as being of the woman (Eve). This is extraordinary as the nation of Israel has always been patriarchal; people are mentioned in terms of their fathers, not their mothers. Because of this, many see this verse as also being a prophecy of Messiah's birth through a virgin

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus)

The Book of Genesis also makes reference to the importance of the lineage or the heritage of the coming Messiah. In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham. "In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed." This is a reference to the influence that the descendants of Abraham will have over all the earth and is also seen as an indication that, "...the Messiah would descend from Abraham as Messiah is the source of all true blessings." (Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus)

The bloodline of the coming messiah is therefore seen to extend from Isaac to Jacob then to the son of Jacob, Judah. This lineage of Jesus Christ is often mentioned in the New Testament writings and will be discussed in section three.

It is also important to note that the question of lineage and the Messiah extends to other books of the Old Testament.

For example, in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, through Nathan the prophet, God promises King David that the ".... Messiah will not only come from his own bloodline, but will also inherit his throne."

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus)

Furthermore, the idea of lineage and bloodline as an important factor in the coming messiah is also related to the idea of political and Kingly inheritance.

Therefore we find both Isaiah and Jeremiah emphasizing that the throne of David is seen as the place of the Messiah's Governance of the earth. "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:7) In Jeremiah we read; " 'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land'." (Jeremiah 23:5) These references to the lineage of the Messiah are continued in the New Testament, as will be referred to in the following section.

Furthermore, the issue of the lineage of David as the line of descent of the coming Messiah is also empathized in other later books of the bible such as II Kings 7:1.

The importance of genealogy in terms of the prophetic vision of the coming messiah is stressed in the following quotation.

Clearly, in order to verify the fulfillment of this prophecy it is necessary to have an accurate genealogical record. Knowing the importance of this messianic sign, the Jews kept genealogical records of all the ancestors of David. These were kept in Bethlehem, where He was born. For this reason, when it came time for the birth of Jesus Christ, Joseph and the Virgin Mary, who were of the lineage of David, had to go from their town of Nazareth to distant Bethlehem, in order to be registered in the genealogical book of the new descendants of this king.

Alexander)

2.2. Isaiah

The Book of Isaiah deserves special attention with regard to this topic as there are many prophecies about the Messiah which can be compared in terms of their fulfillment to the books of the New Testament. One of the most often quoted of the Messianic prophesies in Isaiah is the following.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.

ISAIAH 9:6-7)

This important passage from Isaiah reveals not only the details of the birth of Christ but also ".... gives us vital information, as to the effects and consequences of the miraculous coming of Christ into the world in human form." (Williamson) There are of course many references to the fulfillment of this aspect, and the emphasis on the miraculous birth and nature of Christ which will be referred to in the following section.

The prophetic statements of Isaiah are some of the most illuminating in terms of the history and revelation of Jesus as the Messiah in the New Testament.

In Isaiah 9 reference is made to the history of the tribe of Israel who are in "darkness." This refers to historical, political and social aspects. Isaiah predicts the coming of the time of "light." This refers to the birth of the Messiah and is an intimation of the coming of Jesus Crisis in Isaiah 9:6.

As mentioned in the introduction to this study, the visions and prophesies of Isaiah and other Old Testament prophets can also be interpreted in a more mundane historical sense. In this view the coming of the Messiah is seen as a solution to a particular political and social reality facing the Israelites at that time. The Messiah is seen in the context of a King of the Jews who will remove their problems and oppression.

Isaiah had his eyes fixed on an ideal king. Someday, he said to his contemporaries, Judah will have the kind of king who will carry out the divine will. The character of this king will be indicated by the name which he will bear. He will have a long title which in itself signifies that he will not be inferior to any of the kings who have ruled over other nations of the world. With respect to moral qualities, he will be superior to any of them. He will be known as a wonderful counselor.

Patterson 215)

However the many characteristics and events that Isaiah attributes to the Messiah / King are found in the New Testament writings about Christ and many correspond very closely to that of the Christ figure in the New Testament.

For example, Isaiah mentioned the sense of fairness and even - handedness that that Messiah will show in terms of human governance.

There is also strong emphasis on the particular way that the Messiah will make Judgments. " He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;..." (Isaiah 11:3-5) This is particularly relevant when comparing this text with some of the central writings in the New Testament.

Furthermore the Messiah will not judge according to outward appearances. This is an aspect that is often referred to in the writings of the New Testament. The non-violent character of this Messiah and the use of words rather then force is also emphasized in the prophecies of Isaiah. This too has echoes min the wrings of the character of the Messiah in the New Testament.

Central to the vision of the Messiah in the writings of Isaiah is the vision that the Messiah will bring fairness, justice and peace to all. "Behold a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. Each will be like a hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land." (Isaiah 32:1-2)

There are many other references to the Messiah which find echoes in the New Testament.

For example, in Isaiah 11:2, and 61:1, it is stated that the Messiah will be anointed with the Spirit of the True God. "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2.) And the lines from Isaiah 61:1 amplify this point;"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners... (Isaiah 61:1)

2.2. The Son of God: Psalms and Proverbs.

Another cardinal aspect of the Messiah referred to in the Old Testament is that the He must be the true and only Son of God, and, as will be discussed in the following section, be a God Himself. The writers of Psalms and Proverbs make this connection in Psalms 2:7 "I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." In Proverbs 30:4 we read: "Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know! "

Psalms also provides many other references to the coming Messiah. For example, "The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. " (Psalms 72:10-11) These predictions are fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-11, where we read:" After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2)

Psalms provides intimations of the New Testament record of the rejection of the Messiah by his own people. In Psalms 69:8 we read that: "I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons..." This point is also referred to many other books.

For example in Isaiah it is stated that; "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. "(Isaiah 53:2) This is an aspect that is referred to in numerous books of the New testament.

The Betrayal of the Messiah by a close friend is mentioned in Psalms, which refers to the well-known betrayal of Christ in the New Testament. In Psalms we read: "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me."

Psalms 41:9) This prediction is also reiterated in Psalms 55:12-24; "My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords." (55: 20-21) This of course fulfilled in Matthew 26:21-25.

And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me "They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."

Matthew 26:21-25)

2.3. God nature

One of the most important issues with regard to the predictions about the nature of the future Messiah in the Old Testament and the link between these prophesies and Jesus Christ, is the 'God - nature' or Godliness of the Messiah. In other words, to be the Messiah He must be "truly God.' "These claims are made in the form of ascribing God's traits to the Messiah and describing Messiah as God's Son. "(Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus) The Messiah will be in the first instance be God Himself on earth. This is an important aspect as it links directly to the assertions of the Christ as the Messiah of the New Testament.

In this regard in the Old Testament the prophet Micah states in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah will be eternal and refers to a Messiah whose."..goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." A reading of the full verse from Micah illustrates this aspect clearly: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)

There are also other significant correspondences with the New Testament in this book of Bible. One noteworthy correspondence is the striking of the Messiah on the Cheek. In Micah 5:1 we read the following: "Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod." This can readily be compared to the New Testament text of Matthew. "They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again." (Matthew 27:30)

2.4. Daniel

In the Book of Daniel the time of the coming the Messiah is foretold. This deals with the period before the restoration of Jerusalem to the coming of Christ. This prophecy is also known as "Seventy times seven." (Alexander) "Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree 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." (Daniel 9:24) This period of time is calculated in multiples of seven and "...will last altogether seventy times seven, or 490 years..." (Alexander)

According to the prophecy the Messiah will come "...towards the end of the following sixty-two seven-year periods...." (Alexander) Importantly the prophecy also states that the Messiah will suffer and die. "After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off 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 9:26)

The final section of the prophesy includes close comparisons with the New Testament but also states that the coming of the Messiah will also usher in a time of destruction and desolation in the world. "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

Daniel. 9:27)

Even more importantly the book of Daniel explicitly refers to the coming of the Messiah, which is reflected in many of the writings of the New Testament. In Daniel 7:13-14, we read the following In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14)

The central point here is that in Daniel it is prophesized that the coming Messiah will establish a kingdom that would be permanent an indestructible. This is an issue which relates strongly to many of the texts of the new testament; which will be further expanded on in the following section on the fulfillment of prophesy.

There are many other instances is the Old Testament where there are specific prophesies and predictions relating to the coming of the Messiah. For example, in Zechariah we read: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (Zechariah 12:10) This refers to the piercing of Christ on the Cross. In Zechariah 11:12 we read; "I told them, 'If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.' So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. " This is reflected in Matthew and the betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver. "Then one of the Twelve -- the one called Judas Iscariot -- went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over." (Matthew 26: 14 -16)

Zechariah also refers to the important issue which is echoed in the new testament of the forsaking of the Messiah by His disciples. "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the Lord Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones." (Zechariah 13:7) This aspect is dealt with in Matthew 26:31, 56

The fulfillment of Messianic prophesies in the New Testament.

References have already been made in the above sections to many correspondences between the Old and New Testament in terms the predictions about the nature, actions and significance of the Messiah.

What is evident is that the majority of these correspondences point to the fact that Jesus Christ as the Messiah in the writings of the New Testament bears a great deal of resemblance to the Old Testament prophecies and can in many instances be seen as the fulfillment of these prophecies. This can be seen especially in the Book of Isaiah.

As discussed above, Isaiah describes the miraculous birth of Christ in terms that are echoed clearly in the texts of the New Testament. The prophecies of Isaiah indicate that the Messiah will have the holy power to rule the earth. This is fulfilled in Matthew 28:18: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me'."

Therefore the predictions of Isaiah in terms of the way that the messiah will rule and govern are fulfilled in the New Testament.

This view of the messiah from Isaiah and other prophets is sustained in various books of the New Testament. For example in 2 Corinthians 5:19 we read of the way that God's will is mediated through Jesus Christ. "...that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

These correspondences which refer to the power and scope of the Messiah can be found in other sections of the New Testament. Another example is to be found in the Book of Daniel where the prediction is made that the Messiah will sweep away opposition to God's rule on earth." Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:35) This prediction is fulfilled in Matthew 13:32, where Christ compares the Kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, which grows into a great and powerful tree. " Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (Matthew 13:32)

An important aspect that is referred to in the Old Testament Messianic prophesies was the lineage and the bloodline of the Messiah. This aspect is fulfilled in the New Testament in various writings. In Acts, Peter refers to the fact that, " Christ was raised up for the purpose of sitting on David's throne, and that this divine purpose was fulfilled." (Williamson) In Acts 2:20 we read; "But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne."

Therefore with regard to the many references to the lineage and heritage of the Messiah dating from the Book of Genesis, we find correspondences and a fulfillment of these prophesies in the New Testament. This aspect can be further expanded on in other sections of the New Testament. For example, The Gospel of Matthew begins its account of Jesus by showing how He is related in a hereditary line from Abraham - as was referred to in the previous section. This lineage of the bloodline of Jesus as the Messiah is also repeated in Luke. "... The son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,..." (Luke 3:34) Jesus is also shown to be the heir to the throne of David in Romans 1:3-4. "...regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."

These examples, among others, show the fulfillment of earlier prophesies in the New Testament texts. As scholars point out, the genealogy of the Messiah is an important issue that is focused on and shown to be fulfilled in the New Testament. "...genealogical records were extant right up until the time of the destruction of Bethlehem. Utilizing them, the Evangelists Matthew and Luke were able to reproduce in their Gospels the complete genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1, Luke 3), and thereby to prove His generation from King David." (Alexander)

Another example of the fulfillment of the prophecies in the New Testament is the central aspect of the eternal God - nature of the Messiah. This was related to the vision of Micah and is reiterated in the books of the New Testament. The claim of the eternal nature of Christ is made, for example, in John. " 'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!" (John. 8:58) With regard to the God - nature of the Messiah, reference to this aspect is also found in Ephesians 1:3-14 as well as in Colossians 1:15-19. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:15-16)

The above aspects are also related to the fact that the messiah must be the son of God. This Old Testament prophecy is clearly mentioned in various books of the New Testament. When the angel informs Mary that she is about to be the mother of Jesus Christ, he says of Jesus; "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father, David." (Luke 1:32) In Matthew 3:17 we have the words of God which refer to Jesus, His Son. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."