In Christianity and Islam, Jesus is upheld as the Messiah.
In the Abrahamic religions, the Messiah will be known by his attributes and features. How do Judaism, Christianity and Islam differ in their image of the Messiah?| 1. Status |
SaviourA great political Jewish leader who will come in the future and unite the Jewish people and make Israel great again. He will be a normal human being, born of human parents. He will eventually die and bequeath his kingdom to his son or his successor.Divine DietyJesus is a divine God-like entity. Therefore he will continue to be God-like till the end of time.Will the Christian Messiah experience an earthly death? LeaderJesus was a Jewish Hebrew Prophet, a slave of God and will return as a great leader and advocate for monotheism (Islam) near the end-times. He will eventually die and the Muslims will offer the funeral prayer for him and bury him in in a vacant grave set aside next to Muhammad in Saudi Arabia today. |
| 2. Terminology |
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Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
It was this prophecy where 'Messiah' was used for the first time as a title for the coming Prince of God. This led Jews to refer of him as "ha Mashiah," "the Messiah".
DANIEL 9:25 In Christianity, the Christ (Greek: Χριστός (Christos) meaning "the anointed one") is a title for the saviour and redeemer. He would bring salvation to the Jewish people and mankind.
Christians believe that Jesus is the Jewish messiah called Christ in both the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. al-Masīḥ (proper name, pronounced [mæˈsiːħ]) is the Arabic word for messiah. In modern Arabic, it is used as one of the many titles for Jesus. |
| 3. Names |
"Savior He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
JOHN 1:41 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ when he is come, he will tell us all things.
JOHN 4:25
QURAN 4:171 |
| 4. 'Anointed One' |
| He will be "anointed" with holy anointing oil, to be king of God's kingdom. The Israelites, to whom Jesus was sent, had a traditional practice of anointing their kings with oil.
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
EXODUS 29:7 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
1 KINGS 1:39 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
Jesus was the Messiah because he anointed the eyes of the blind to cure them or because he used to lay hands on the sick.
2 KINGS 9:3 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. MARK 6:13 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord
JAMES 5:14 Jesus was the Messiah because he anointed the eyes of the blind to cure them or because he used to lay hands on the sick. Also, Jesus is described as having wet hair that looked as if water was dripping from it. Some interpret this to mean he was 'naturally anointed'. QURAN 3:43 |
| 5. Many Messiah's |
Messiah is used throughout the Hebrew Bible in reference to a wide variety of individuals and objects; for example, a Jewish king, Jewish priests and prophets, the Jewish Temple and its utensils, unleavened bread
If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. LEVITICUS 4:3 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 2 SAMUEL 1:14 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. PSALMS 105:15 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
ISAIAH 45:1 Christians recognise the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) within their Bible. Therefore, Christians acknowledge the existence of multiple Messiahs in the Bible
In Islam, no mention is made of any other Messiah, besides Jesus |
| 6. Is it Jesus? |
Still WaitingJews are waiting for the Messiah who is coming soon. Belief in the eventual coming of the Jewish Messiah is a basic and fundamental part of traditional Judaism.Jews believe that Jesus falsely claimed to be the expected Messiah of the Jews. Jesus did not fulfil any of the tasks the Jewish scriptures say the Messiah would. Jesus was MessiahChristians believe Jesus was the Messiah and await his return. Christians believe Jesus has fulfilled all the Messianic requirements, or will fulfill on his return.Jesus was MessiahMuslims believe Jesus was the Messiah (Al-Masih) prophesied by the earlier Israelite prophets. Muslims believe Jesus was a human being and a prophet. He was not divine, the son of God, nor did he die on the cross. |
| 7. Time & Place |
Jews are waiting for the Messiah near the end-times.
1. The conduct of mankind will determine the time of the Messiah. Either it will be when he is most needed, because the world is so sinful; or a time when he is most deserved, because the world is so good. 2. Israel will be inhabited by the majority of Jews. Christians believe Jesus was the Messiah. He came in 33 AD (2000-years ago) and he will return again near the end-times.
Muslims believe Jesus was the Messiah. He came in 33 AD (2000-years ago) and he will return again near the end-times. |
| 8. Anti-Christ |
ArmilusAnti-Christ |
| 9. Scripture |
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Isaiah said the Messiah would rule the earth and he would slay the wicked by the breath of his mouth alone
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Zechariah said this supreme ruler was destined to be God's own chosen representative
ISAIAH 11:1-5 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Micah predicted he would be born in Bethlehem, and that his origin is from the beginning of time, and whose reign would last forever
ZECHARIAH 6:12-13 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Daniel called him the "son of Man," who came from the ancient of days (before time), and that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him in an everlasting dominion
MICAH 5:2 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Other Scripture references to Messiah:
DANIEL 7:13-14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days for yet the vision is for many days. DANIEL 10:14 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. EZEKIEL 38:16 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. HOSEA 3:4-5 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. ISAIAH 2:11 ISAIAH 2:42 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. ISAIAH 59:20 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD. JEREMIAH 23:30-33 Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab. JEREMIAH 48:47 But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.
JEREMIAH 49:39 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. ZEPHANIAH 3:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
John said, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
ZECHARIAH 14:9 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire
And as Jesus was coming towards him, John said, "This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me'"
LUKE 3:16 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me.
Furthermore, since he was the only prophet to rise at the same time as Jesus, he rejoiced at the honour of being appointed to reveal him to the nation
JOHN 1:30 And I knew him not but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
JOHN 1:31 John the Baptist, a prophet who lived during Jesus's lifetime, believed Jesus to be the Messiah.
Jesus is the Messiah Jesus or "al-Masihu ibn Maryam," the Messiah, son of Mary. In the Quran, the Messiah title applies to Jesus alone.
Jesus is mentioned as having been sent down by Allah, strengthened by the holy spirit and hence, 'anointed' with the task of being a prophet and a "recipient of sacred scripture". [And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary - distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah ].
Other Quran references to Messiah:
QURAN 3:45 QURAN 4:157 QURAN 4:171 QURAN 5:72 QURAN 5:75 QURAN 9:31 |
CREDIT
https://islamqa.info/en/43148
http://www.debate.org.uk/debate-topics/theological/messiah/
http://www.aish.com/jl/li/m/48944241.html
http://www.aish.com/jw/s/48892792.html
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/messiah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_messianic_prophecies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah
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| Author: Guest • Updated: 06 Sep 2026 • 19,421 views | 19 hrs ago |
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What is Christianity?Christianity is a global religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who followers believe is the Son of God. It's a monotheistic faith, meaning Christians believe in one God who exists in three co-equal persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit
Christianity is based on the Bible, with the Old Testament and New Testament serving as sacred texts.
What is Judaism?Judaism encompasses the religion, philosophy, culture and way of life of the Jewish people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, with the Torah as its foundational text (part of the larger text known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as
the Midrash and the Talmud. Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship that God established with the Children of Israel.
Judaism includes a wide corpus of texts, practices, theological positions, and forms of organization. Within Judaism there are a variety of movements, most of which emerged from Rabbinic Judaism, which holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.
The Jews are an ethnoreligious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2012, the world Jewish population was estimated at about 14 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world population. About 42% of all Jews reside in Israel and about 42% reside in the United States and Canada, with most of the remainder living in Europe.
Who is the Messiah?In Abrahamic religions, the messiah or messias is a saviour or liberator of a group of people.
What is Islam?One of the major religions of the world, Islam literally translates to "submission," as a follower of Islam (Muslims) devotes their life to that of their God. The religion began with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. The theology of Islam is based on the Qur'an, which was given to
Muhammad by God. Some of the major fundamental principles of Islam include the Five Pillars, which hope to unite all Muslims into a community. Two different factions of Muslims exist - the majority are known as Sunni, with a small percentage known as Shi'a - both predominantly reside throughout the Middle East.
Muhammad died in 632 AD and the religion of Islam formally started after his death. The Quran was formally compiled and finalised in 650 AD, prior to which it was 'memorised' and written across many parchments.
