Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of JesusSample

Day 22: Yeshua the Messiah

The New Testament revolves around the person of Jesus. This name is derived from the Greek, the original language of the New Testament, which consistently calls him Iesous. However, the culture in which Jesus lived was not Greek, but Hebrew or Aramaic, a sister language to Hebrew.

In the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Jewish scripture, which was in use before Jesus was born, we find some interesting details. Iesous is also used to transliterate the name of Moses' servant, whom we know as Joshua. The Hebrew form of his name is Yehoshua. Iesous is also the Greek transliteration of a shorter form of the name, Yeshua. Several people had this name in the Hebrew Bible. It seems that in His own culture, Jesus would have been known by the name Yeshua or Yehoshua.

This is even more significant when we recall the familiar passage in Matthew where the angel tells his parents, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Yeshua sounds very much like the Hebrew word for “salvation” from which it is derived. It would make perfect sense if the angel told them in Hebrew, “Call his name Yeshua....” It's an obvious play on words.

We tend to associate the name Jesus with the term “Christ” so much so that some have wondered if Christ was His last name. It’s not! Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Mashiach (which means Messiah). It means “anointed.” Kings and priests were typically anointed. For example, Samuel anointed David to signify that he would become the king of Israel. As we’ve seen, the prophets often spoke of a coming king in the family of David. When people referred to Messiah, this king was the person they meant, and “Christ” is the Greek term for this same person.

Jesus did not typically go around telling people that He was the Messiah. When we find the term “Christ” in the gospels, it is usually examples of other people talking about Him. He did claim to be this promised king in more subtle ways.

However, there was one occasion when He came right out and said it. In John 4, when Jesus was talking to a woman at a well in Samaria, she said, “I know that Messiah is coming” (John 4:25) to which Jesus answered, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he” (4:26).

Although Jesus didn’t set up the promised kingdom when He was here the first time, He certainly claimed to be the king who would do that eventually. What a day that will be! Let us live today in light of that future reality.

Reflection

It’s remarkable that Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah to a woman, and not just any woman, but a Samaritan woman. Samaritans were hated by the Jews and women had few rights in Jesus’ time. Jesus treated all people—lepers, women, children, and Gentiles—with love and compassion. We should do the same. How can you serve others?

King Jesus is coming to take all of us to be with Him forever—saved and safe. What wonderful news! That truly is ahead of us. Journal your thoughts on this glorious future awaiting you.