This video is crucial to understanding the history and meaning of this title, Messiah IMO. The presentation of Bart Ehrman (on this issue) is totally valid and I agree with his viewpoint fully. Listen carefully for the meaning and the history as you listen to this video. Christianity has it all WRONG (when it comes to this Messiah person who they call JESUS). Maybe this is why the Church Age is soon Ending!
The title Messiah derives from the Hebrew language. In Greek the title becomes Christ. In my Swedish language the title becomes Kristus. What does this title mean in real-time for you and I (today)? It means an 'anointed one' of God (Yahweh) who is favored for a special role/mission. It does NOT mean that this anointed one is God Almighty. It means that God has chosen this human being for a special role/mission. Was Jesus/Yeshua a Messiah person (a favored one of God)?
It appears that Jesus/Yeshua did view himself as a Messiah person, chosen by his God (Yahweh) to announce the coming KINGDOM of God for planet Earth. Jesus/Yeshua did seem to view himself during his three year ministry as a Messiah person. He thought that God (Yahweh) was going to set up a Kingdom on Earth that would replace the Roman regime/kingdom and God would rule (from heaven through him). Jesus/Yeshua would serve as God's chosen 'king' (small k) under the overall rule of King Yahweh/Father.
Jesus/Yeshua would then select his 12 servants/disciples who would assist him during his period of rule (here on planet Earth). This can be deciphered from reading the Gospels discerningly (recognizing that much of these so-called Gospels were NOT written during the historical time period of Jesus/Yeshua). They were written decades later and then by Greek speaking theologians who had no eye witness understanding of this historical person (called Jesus/Yeshua). These writers used oral history/testimony to reconstruct a narrative called the Gospels.
Keep in mind that AFTER the death of Jesus/Yeshua the entire concept of Messiah changed (under Christian thinking). This change in thinking happened when select disciples THOUGHT that Yeshua/Jesus had been raised (glorified) after his passing. This glorification created NEW thinking and later NEW theology about this Messiah person (forgetting much of his historical ministry). Gradually, over time, a NEW exaltation of Jesus/Yeshua emerged. A New Christology emerged. All this happened decades AFTER his death and mostly after Nicaea in 325 A.D.
So what did Jesus/Yeshua think with regard to the words 'son' of God and 'son' of man. Did he think that he was the divine SON of Yahweh (during his lifetime)? Did he think he was God in the flesh? I don't think so! He actually thought that he was an 'anointed' one and also a favored 'son' of his Father God (Yahweh). He did NOT think he was a divine SON of Yahweh God (as Christians later assumed) and he did not think he was God in the flesh (as Christians later assumed). He viewed his role as that of a messenger of Yahweh (God) and also as one who was chosen to 'rule' (under God) on Earth (as a favored one of God so the KINGDOM could be realized).
The historical Jesus/Yeshua had the viewpoint that he would be a 'ruler' (on Earth) but under the heavenly rule of his God (Yahweh/Father). His 12 disciples would assist him with this rule (on Earth) as each would govern select venues during this Kingdom Age which God was bringing. So YES Jesus/Yeshua did think he was a Messiah person chosen by his God (Yahweh). He did not view himself as a suffering Messiah and/or one who would sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind. Daniel 7 gives some details on this concept called the 'son of man' coming in the clouds of heaven.
So, in conclusion, Jesus/Yeshua did view himself as a Messiah person (during his historical lifetime). He also viewed himself as a son of God (in the Hebrew sense of being a favored one of God). He viewed the 'son of man' as this COSMIC person who would announce the Kingdom at the appropriate time. Daniel 7 gives us some details and I would also say that Revelation 4 and 5 gives us further details. It is clear, to me, that Yahweh/Father is God (on the Throne) and the glorified Jesus/Yeshua (today) acts as a 'son of man' and/or the Lion of Judah during the end-time period.
We need to differentiate between the HISTORICAL Jesus/Yeshua and the Jesus of Christianity (a distortion/corruption) of the real Jew from Nazareth. Catholic and Protestant theology has distorted the real viewpoint of this Messiah person and created a corruption of his real message/mission. Christianity has derived the view that Yeshua/Jesus (after his death) was a suffering Messiah (and also God). This theology is now being debunked (by scholars) as invalid and I, personally, fully agree with Bart in the video presentation above.
Think for yourself and read between the lines when you read the corrupted Gospels. Some words are valid and some are obviously made-up/invented to create a theology which Jesus/Yeshua would reject (if here today in person). Tribulation is coming for all of Christianity because of these corruptions in doctrine and dogma. When you listen to so-called experts on the internet BEWARE of their biases and assumptions. Read, think, and derive your own assumptions using the NOW as your reference point for reality! That is my viewpoint!
I am: Donald B. Swenson, Economist/Philosopher, http://kingdomecon.wordpress.com. Also, donaldswenson.blogspot.com.
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