Identity Crisis - The Messiah or the LORD? (part 1)

We've been learning about Jesus' divinity...that is to say, His identity as God.

So far, we've covered:
1. That believing Jesus is God is the cornerstone of Christianity
2. That His names and titles identify Him as God.
3. That He called Himself the "I AM."

Now we're switching gears and examining some key Messianic passages. Believe it or not, there are actually passages in Scripture that identify the Messiah as God Himself. These passages of scripture (typically an Old Testament statement about Yahweh that is fulfilled in Jesus) clearly demonstrate Jesus' divine nature.

Let's take a look!

The Bethlehem Prophecy

Matthew 2:5-6 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"

This was a prophecy about the birthplace of the Messiah. We know this because King Herod used the passage to try to kill Jesus before His second birthday. When Herod asked, every priest and scholar in Jerusalem instantly knew where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They pointed to this quote from Micah as evidence.

Let's take a look at the passage in context.

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

Now we see that this passage tells us more about this Messiah born in Bethlehem. This was going to be a Ruler whose going forth was from everlasting. What does this mean? This means that the Messiah did not have a beginning! Who is the only One that existed in eternity past? Who is the One who never had a starting point? It's God!

This is a prophecy of a Ruler (the Messiah) who has always existed (God)...but Who would come from Bethlehem!

The Signs of the Messiah

Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

When John the Baptist was languishing in prison, he began to have doubts about his cousin Jesus - whether or not He was really the Messiah. When He sent messengers to ask Jesus whether He was the promised Messiah or not, Jesus responded by specifically pointing out six of His actions.

Why would Jesus give these signs as evidence that He was the Messiah? Because the nation of Israel actually called these the "signs of the messiah." Using Isaiah 35:4-6, the Jews taught that the Messiah would come and do amazing miracles such as healing the blind and the deaf.

Here is this passage in full:

Isaiah 35:4-6 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! 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 shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

These were supposed to be the signs of the Messiah, right? And we know that Jesus fulfilled all of these, didn't He? But if you look again at verse 4, you can see it says "your God will come." So which is it - is this the coming of the Messiah, or the coming of God?

I humbly suggest, it was both! God came in the form of the Messiah.

The Messenger of the Messiah

It was common knowledge among the Jewish people that God would send a messenger ahead of the Messiah, to prepare His way. Of course, we know that this was John the Baptist...who prepared the people by preaching a message of repentance.

We have three witnesses in the New Testament of John's ministry as this messenger:

Zechariah, John's father

Luke 1:17 "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient  to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

John himself

John 1:23 "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness "Make straight the way of the LORD."'"

Jesus

Matthew 11:10 "For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.'"

All three of these sources quote from two Old Testament prophets:

Isaiah

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'"

Malachi

Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in Whom you delight. Behold, He is coming..."

Malachi 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."

Putting all these passages together, we can see an amazing truth.
According to the New Testament, John was sent to prepare the way of Jesus - but according to Isaiah 40:3, he was sent to prepare the way of Yahweh.

According to the New Testament, John was the messenger sent before Jesus - but according to Malachi 3:1, the LORD sent John to prepare His own way.

Malachi 3:1 also uses the term "Adonai" or "earthly lord" to refer to the Messiah. ("...the Lord, whom you seek...") Some people could claim this proves that Malachi was telling us the Messiah would be just a man. But this can't be true...look at the next phrase! "And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple."

"The Lord" may be referring to the Messiah here, but this verse is clearly saying that the temple would be His temple. Who would that make Him out to be?