Messiah
The term "messiah" originates from the Hebrew word "Mashiah," meaning "the anointed one," and is foundational in both Judaism and Christianity. In the Hebrew Bible, the term refers to individuals who are divinely chosen for roles such as prophets, priests, or kings, exemplified by figures like King Saul and the high priest Aaron. In Christianity, the concept evolves to predominantly signify Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians believe fulfills the role of the ultimate messiah, prophesied in the Old Testament, and destined to bring salvation to humanity. While Jews do not recognize Jesus as this awaited figure, many continue to anticipate a future messiah who will restore their nation. Beyond its religious implications, "messiah" is often used in contemporary discourse to describe extraordinary humanitarians and leaders, such as Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela, who are celebrated for their significant contributions to society and advocacy for the marginalized. The term thus carries a dual significance, bridging spiritual and secular realms while resonating with a variety of cultural interpretations.
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Messiah
The concept of “messiah”—derived from the Hebrew word Mashiah or Mashiach, meaning “the anointed one”— comes from the Judeo-Christian religious tradition and is an integral part of the ancient, living religion of Judaism and the relatively younger religion of Christianity. In the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible, the word Mashiah is used to describe a person who has been divinely appointed to hold an office or carry out a specific task. The office can be that of a prophet, priest, or king.
In Christianity, the term Messiah is almost exclusively associated with Jesus of Nazareth. The Christian Bible's New Testament, in its original Greek, translated the Hebrew noun mashiah as Christos (“Christ”), which was then applied to Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is God’s chosen prophet who will return to be the future priest and king of all humankind at the end of time. In addition to its religious connotations, the title “messiah” is also sometimes used for extraordinary modern humanitarians.
Background
Anointment was a very sacred ritual of the ancient Israelites, a highly symbolic act performed on someone who would henceforth be set apart by God for service. The person was usually anointed in public view by having special oils poured on their head, symbolizing sanctification or dedication. The kings, priests, and prophets of the Old Testament were initiated into their respective roles through anointment and thus came to be known as the anointed ones, or messiahs.
A prophet is someone called by God to deliver a message to the people on God’s behalf and under God’s authority. In the Old Testament's Book of 1 Chronicles 16:22, King David says that God has declared, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm." The word used here for “anointed” in the original Hebrew is mashiah. Another example appears in 1 Kings 19:16, in which the prophet Elijah is given the instruction from God to anoint Elisha as his successor.
A priest is anointed as he is initiated into the priesthood. Just as a prophet becomes God’s representative to the people, a priest becomes the people’s representative to God and performs all the rituals instituted by God on behalf of the people. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was chosen by God to become the very first high priest of the Israelites. He was anointed in an elaborate ceremony, as recorded in Leviticus 8.
Lastly, the anointing of King Saul in 1 Samuel 10 as the first king of Israel is an illustration of the ritual of anointing in the appointment of a king. Throughout the Old Testament, wherever the anointed one, or messiah, occurs, such a figure is generally respected and seen as a source of guidance, provision, and redemption sent by God.
The usage of “messiah” radically changes in the New Testament. It shifts from describing different individuals anointed for different roles to referring to one all-encompassing messiah, Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth is described as the messiah several times and seen as the singular chosen one of God who will bring salvation to the people of the world. For instance, John 1:41–42 reads, “He [the apostle Andrew] first found his own brother Simon [Peter] and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’ He brought him to Jesus.”
Numerous prophecies in the Old Testament foretell an expected future messiah, which Christians interpret as predicting the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Among these are passages in Genesis 14 about the “great high priest”; Deuteronomy 18:15, describing the “great prophet”; and 2 Samuel 7, about the permanent reign of the “great king.” In Christian theology, all three messianic offices are therefore ascribed to Jesus at once. While the Jewish faith does not regard Jesus as the awaited messiah, some Jews do believe in a future messianic figure who will restore their nation, a tradition that began during the Babylonian exile and gained particular popularity during Roman rule.
Messiah Today
Besides its religious application, the term “messiah” is widely used in popular culture and modern times. Just as in biblical times, when a messianic figure was held in high esteem by the people, a person who stands out as an exceptional humanitarian is often called a messiah of their period. Specifically, persons involved in uplifting the downtrodden, championing the cause of the neglected, and caring for the sick and needy of society are revered and may be called messiahs.
Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa (1910–97), was an Albanian Catholic nun who lived the majority of her life working among the marginalized people on the streets of Kolkata, India. She is respected the world over for her sacrificial social work. In recognition of her work, she was awarded numerous honors, including the Bharat Ratna Award—the highest civilian award in India—and the Nobel Peace Prize. She has affectionately been called the “messiah of the poor” by some Indians grateful for her work in their country, among them former Indian Cabinet Secretary B. K. Chaturvedi.
The first Black President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), was considered a political messiah by the people of his nation, for whom he suffered and fought to deliver liberation and racial equality. Mandela was the most iconic figure in the anti-apartheid movement of South Africa, dedicated to abolishing the inhumane treatment of Black South Africans in their own country.
Many other religious and cult leaders have been called “messiahs” by those who follow their teachings, such as the founder of the Unification Church Sun Myung Moon (1920-2012). The founder of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement of the 1970s called the Nation of Yahweh was referred to by his followers as Yahweh ben Yahweh, meaning “God, son of God.” His given name was Hulon Mitchell Jr.
Bibliography
Barnard, Rita, editor. The Cambridge Companion to Nelson Mandela. Cambridge UP, 2014.
Biggerstaff, Michael. “The Anointing of Aaron: The Process by Which He Became Holier than His Sons.” Studia Antiqua, vol. 7, no. 2, 2009. scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studiaantiqua/vol7/iss2/5. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Chaturvedi, B. K. Mother Teresa: Messiah of the Poor. Diamond, 2005.
Ficino, Marsilio. On the Christian Religion. U of Toronto P, 2022.
Holmes, Michael W., editor. The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Soc. of Biblical Lit., 2010.
Kozlovic, Anton K. “Superman as Christ-Figure: The American Pop Culture Movie Messiah.” Journal of Religion & Film, vol. 6, no. 1, 2016. core.ac.uk/download/pdf/232763091.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Strong, James. The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nelson, 2010.