The Messiah to Be Born in Bethlehem

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are the smallest town in Judah. Your family is almost too small to count, but the “Ruler of Israel” will come from you to rule for me. His beginnings are from ancient times, from long, long ago.

The Family History of Jesus the Messiah

This is the family history of Jesus the Messiah. He came from the family of David, who was from the family of Abraham.

Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

So there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David. There were also fourteen generations from David until the people were taken away to Babylon. And there were fourteen more from the time the people were taken to Babylon until the Messiah was born.

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah happened. His mother Mary was engaged to marry Joseph. But before they married, he learned that she was expecting a baby. (She was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.)

Herod called a meeting of all the leading Jewish priests and teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah would be born.

He went to a town called Nazareth and lived there. This gave full meaning to what God said through the prophets. God said the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.

When John was in prison, he heard about the things that were happening—things the Messiah would do. So he sent some of his followers to Jesus.

Peter Says Jesus Is the Messiah

Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He said to his followers, “Who do people say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Then Jesus warned his followers not to tell anyone he was the Messiah.

The followers asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come before the Messiah comes?”

Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Lord?

So while the Pharisees were together, Jesus asked them a question.

He said, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” The Pharisees answered, “The Messiah is the Son of David.”

David calls the Messiah ‘Lord.’ So how can he be David’s son?”

And you should not be called ‘Master.’ You have only one Master, the Messiah.

Many people will come and use my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah.’ And they will fool many people.

“Someone might say to you at that time, ‘Look, there is the Messiah!’ Or someone else might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them.

False messiahs and false prophets will come and do great miracles and wonders, trying to fool the people God has chosen, if that is possible.

“Someone might tell you, ‘The Messiah is there in the desert!’ But don’t go into the desert to look for him. Someone else might say, ‘There is the Messiah in that room!’ But don’t believe it.

But Jesus said nothing. Again the high priest said to Jesus, “You are now under oath. I command you by the power of the living God to tell us the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”

They said, “Show us that you are a prophet, Messiah! Tell us who hit you!”

When a crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, “I will free one man for you. Which one do you want me to free: Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

Pilate asked, “So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Messiah?” All the people said, “Kill him on a cross!”

John Prepares the Way for Jesus

The Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, begins

Peter Says Jesus Is the Messiah

Jesus and his followers went to the towns in the area of Caesarea Philippi. While they were traveling, Jesus asked the followers, “Who do people say I am?”

Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

I can assure you that anyone who helps you by giving you a drink of water because you belong to the Messiah will definitely get a reward.

Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Lord?

Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. He asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?

David himself calls the Messiah ‘Lord.’ So how can the Messiah be David’s son?” Many people listened to Jesus and were very pleased.

Many people will come and use my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will fool many people.

“Someone might say to you at that time, ‘Look, there is the Messiah!’ Or another person might say, ‘There he is!’ But don’t believe them.

False messiahs and false prophets will come and do miracles and wonders, trying to fool the people God has chosen, if that is possible.

But Jesus said nothing to answer him. The high priest asked Jesus another question: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?”

If he is really the Messiah, the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross now. When we see this, then we will believe in him.” The criminals on the crosses beside Jesus also said bad things to him.

Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord.

The Holy Spirit told him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah from the Lord.

Everyone was hoping for the Messiah to come, and they wondered about John. They thought, “Maybe he is the Messiah.”

Demons came out of many people. The demons shouted, “You are the Son of God.” But Jesus gave a strong command for the demons not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Peter Says Jesus Is the Messiah

One time Jesus was praying alone. His followers came together there, and he asked them, “Who do the people say I am?”

Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah from God.”

Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Lord?

Then Jesus said, “Why do people say that the Messiah is the Son of David?

David calls the Messiah ‘Lord.’ So how can the Messiah also be David’s son?”

Jesus said, “Be careful! Don’t be fooled. Many people will come using my name. They will say, ‘I am the Messiah’ and ‘The right time has come!’ But don’t follow them.

They said, “If you are the Messiah, then tell us that you are.” Jesus said to them, “If I tell you I am the Messiah, you will not believe me.

They began to accuse Jesus and said to Pilate, “We caught this man trying to change the thinking of our people. He says we should not pay taxes to Caesar. He calls himself the Messiah, a king.”

The people stood there watching everything. The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus. They said, “If he is God’s Chosen One, the Messiah, then let him save himself. He saved others, didn’t he?”

One of the criminals hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself, and save us too!”

The prophets said the Messiah must suffer these things before he begins his time of glory.”

Jesus said to them, “It is written that the Messiah would be killed and rise from death on the third day.

John Tells About the Messiah

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John to ask him, “Who are you?” He told them the truth.

Without any hesitation he said openly and plainly, “I am not the Messiah.”

They said to John, “You say you are not the Messiah. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?”

I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing people with water so that Israel could know that he is the Messiah.”

Then John said this for everyone to hear: “I also did not know who the Messiah was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and rest on a man. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen this happen. I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and rest on this man. So this is what I tell people: ‘He is the Son of God.’”

The first thing Andrew did was to go and find his brother Simon. Andrew said to him, “We have found the Messiah.” (“Messiah” means “Christ.”)

You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only the one God sent to prepare the way for him.’

The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming.” (He is the one called Christ.) “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus said, “He is talking to you now—I am the Messiah.”

“A man told me everything I have ever done. Come see him. Maybe he is the Messiah.”

People Wonder if Jesus Is the Messiah

Then some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “This is the man they are trying to kill.

But he is teaching where everyone can see and hear him. And no one is trying to stop him from teaching. Maybe the leaders have decided that he really is the Messiah.

But when the real Messiah comes, no one will know where he comes from. And we know where this man’s home is.”

But many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, “We are waiting for the Messiah to come. When he comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”

Other people said, “He is the Messiah.” And others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee.

The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of David. And they say that he will come from Bethlehem, the town where David lived.”

They said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The leaders had already decided that they would punish anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah. They would stop them from coming to the synagogue.

The Jewish leaders gathered around him. They said, “How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Messiah, then tell us clearly.”

Martha answered, “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. You are the one who was coming to the world.”

The people said, “But our law says that the Messiah will live forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

But these are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Then, by believing, you can have life through his name.

David knew this before it happened. That is why he said this about that future king: ‘He was not left in the place of death. His body did not rot in the grave.’ David was talking about the Messiah rising from death.

“So, all the people of Israel should know this for certain: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Messiah. He is the man you nailed to the cross!”

But God said these things would happen. Through the prophets he said that his Messiah would suffer and die. I have told you how God made this happen.

Then the Lord will give you times of spiritual rest. He will send you Jesus, the one he chose to be the Messiah.

‘The kings of the earth prepare themselves to fight, and the rulers all come together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’

That’s what actually happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the other nations, and the people of Israel all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. He is your holy Servant, the one you made to be the Messiah.

The apostles did not stop teaching the people. They continued to tell the Good News—that Jesus is the Messiah. They did this every day in the Temple area and in people’s homes.

Philip Tells the Good News in Samaria

Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about the Messiah.

But Saul became more and more powerful in proving that Jesus is the Messiah. His proofs were so strong that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not argue with him.

You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him.

When John was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the Messiah. He is coming later, and I am not worthy to be the slave who unties his sandals.’

He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, “This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah.”

But after Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time telling God’s message to the Jews, trying to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah.

He argued very strongly against the Jews before all the people. He clearly proved that the Jews were wrong. He used the Scriptures and showed that Jesus is the Messiah.

They said that the Messiah would die and be the first to rise from death. They said that he would bring the light of God’s saving truth to the Jewish people and to the non-Jewish people.”

They are the descendants of our great fathers, and they are the earthly family of the Messiah, who is God over all things. Praise him forever! Amen.

He thought it was better to suffer for the Messiah than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was waiting for the reward that God would give him.

So who is the liar? It is the one who says Jesus is not the Messiah. Whoever says that is the enemy of Christ—the one who does not believe in the Father or in his Son.

This is how you can recognize God’s Spirit. One spirit says, “I believe that Jesus is the Messiah who came to earth and became a man.” That Spirit is from God.

God’s Children Win Against the World

The people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah are God’s children. Anyone who loves the Father also loves the Father’s children.

The Seventh Trumpet Blast

The seventh angel blew his trumpet. Then there were loud voices in heaven. The voices said, “The kingdom of the world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah. And he will rule forever and ever.”

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, “The victory and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah have now come. These things have come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown out. He is the one who accused them day and night before our God.