The Mashiach of Israel is Islams true Saviour and the Saviour of all Mankind. The Hebrew noun מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach), and the verb מָשַׁח (mashach) appear in the Hebrew manuscripts more than seventy times. The root of the word means to anoint, smear or else to consecrate, hence the verb mashach of “אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָשַׁ֤חתָּ שָּׁם֙ מַצֵּבָ֔ה” Genesis 31:13 [Heb] “where you [Jacob] mashach (anointed) a pillar” [Eng], and the noun mashiach of “אִ֣ם הַכֹּהֵ֧ן הַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ יֶחֱטָ֖א” Leviticus 4:3 [Heb] “if the mashiach (anointed) priest sin’s &c” [Eng]. The first usage in Hebrew scriptures of the verb mashach is found in Genesis 31:3 and the first use of the noun mashiach is found in Leviticus 4:3. “‘I am the God of Bethel, where you [Jacob] anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ”” (Genesis 31:13) “if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.” (Leviticus 4:3) The transliterated noun mashiach is translated into English as Messiah and the literal meaning is “anointed one.” Whereas the verb mashach is translated into English simply as “anointed”. Therefore “הַמָּשִׁ֛יח & מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ”, variously present as anoint (action) anointed (condition) and anointed one (being). Clearly מָשַׁח is mashach without the article and מָשִׁיחַ is mashiach with the article. The argument of Islam One false argument which is often made by Islamic clerics is that the term Messiah simply means anointed and therefore saying that Jesus is the Messiah is the same as saying that Jesus was anointed. The Islamic argument presented to European and North American Muslims is based on a grammatical presentation rather than demonstrating a prophetic argument. This is of course understandable as Islam is not able itself to express prophetic truth, as demonstrated by the fact that Islam has changed the meaning of both the Old and New Testaments to suit its purposes. The Hebrew Argument In the grammatical argument the term messiah and the term anointed are the very same in meaning, and thus it is possible in Islam to speak of a prophet like Moses when speaking about the Islamic Jesus. In other words, even as Moses was messianic in his ministry, as the one who was anointed to lead Israel out of captivity, so the Islamic Jesus can also be called messiah (anointed) because he has an end time purpose of God in Islam. In this argument the Islamic Jesus is a mashiach or anointed one, in the same way that Moses was a mashiach. As we saw in Leviticus 4:3 the priest is also called mashiach and so the grammatical argument follows that if Moses, Levi (Priests) and Jesus are all called mashiach, no justification can be given for saying that Jesus was anything other than an anointed prophet. It would be less than truthful if we were not to acknowledge that the Hebrew mashiach is applied to priests and prophets, and that this does amount to speaking of a Levitical priest (especially the High Priest) as a mashiach. It is also true that the same term is applied to kings of Israel as well. When the term masih is used of Messiah Jesus in the Qur’an however there is a definite article placed in front of the expression. So for example in Surah 3:45 we read, “(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah)”, we see that the Arabic for “Messiah, Jesus” is الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى. In exactly the same way we see that when the Qur’an speaks of the Lying Christ (anti-Christ) the Arabic is المسيح الدجال. In the Qur’an there is just one Lying Christ and similarly there is one Messiah, Jesus. For this reason the term al’Masih Isa carries a weight of meaning which goes beyond most prophets, but masih, in Classic Arabic of the Qur’an, as with Christ in common Greek of the Scriptures, have their roots in a Hebrew expression which takes it’s meaning from the act of anointing. The Hebrew verb mashach is the root (action) from which the transpositional noun mashiach, or messiah is derived. The Greek Argument Given that this kind of argument appears to be borne out in Greek as well as Hebrew it is necessary to point out that the Hebrew transliterated term mashiach has a direct and very specific correspondence with the Greek equivalent word for Messiah in the Greek New Testament. There are just eight instances in both Old and New Testament where the translated word Messiah is used to denote Christ Himself. These are: until Messiah the Prince there will be seven Da 9:25 Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, Da 9:26 of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, Mt 1:1 who is called the Messiah. Mt 1:16 the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, Mt 1:17 he inquired of them where the Messiah was Mt 2:4 “We have found the Messiah” Jn 1:41 “I know that Messiah is coming Jn 4:25 The Greek term christos, from the root Χριστός, is the only Greek word used in the greek Scriptures for Christ. In all five hundred and sixty-nine instances, each one is translated Christ. There is however another Greek word for Messiah which clearly makes the term christos exactly the same in prophetic meaning to mashiach. The Greek word which is used to specifically point to the Mashiach or the Messiah is Μεσσίας as in John 1:41 and John 4:25 where we read: “He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ).” (John 1:41) “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:25–26) Whilst it must be true that a grammatical study cannot of itself lead to eternal life, a fuller study can lead to a realisation that the Scriptures are a full and proper reflection of God’s will for men and women through Christ Himself. This includes understanding who Christ is in Person. If we are willing to humble ourselves and look into the matter properly and honestly, we will come to realise that the Messiah of Israel is the Christ of Israel, and these terms carry a great deal more meaning than a simple indication that Jesus was anointed. And yet in His own day the Lord Jesus proved that He was Christ the Son of God, precisely by the anointing which was upon Him. Prophetic Reality “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favourable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1–3) ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favourable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”” (Luke 4:18–22) There are two remarkable facts which stand out from these two passages of Scripture. The first passage is a prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Messiah of Israel. The second passage Jesus declaring in His own person the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled that day. The two remarkable facts are these: [1] The anointing of which Isaiah spoke corresponds precisely in meaning to the person of Jesus Himself. [2] The evidence of this anointing was the very works which Jesus did in the sight of Israel. “The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.” (John 10:24–25) There are those in Islam who will say they believe in the miracles of Jesus. They will tell us that these evidences of Jesus proved that he was anointed. I say to Islam that many in Israel believed not in the works of Christ and accused the Lord of being of the devil. Yet Israel knew that Christ was the Son of God. “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”” (Matthew 26:63–68) The High Priest of God knew that the Christ was the Son of God. He asked the question plainly of Christ. Howbeit then that If the High Priest of Israel knew that the Christ of Israel was the Son of God, Islam says of the Christ, “Thou art a prophet and not the Son of God?” That which separated the High Priest and many of the people of Israel from eternal life was a refusal to believe in the works that Christ did before their very eyes. If they had believed in the Lord’s works they would have received the Lord Himself. Islam says, “We agree with the works of Jesus.” Yet Islam does not see the works of Christ nor can they see them nor can any man see them for they were not worked before our eyes. How easy a thing is it for Islam to say, “We believe in the works of Jesus, but reject the Son of God?” Israel rejected the Lord’s works and yet knew that Christ was the Son of God. Islam rejects the Son of God and claims to believe in His works. Fools all and fools well laid down in deceit and wickedness. What madness to say these things? What wickedness? What vanity? In speaking of Israel and the Messiah of Israel the prophet Isaiah spoke these things: “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ “Render the hearts of this people insensitive,Their ears dull,And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate, “The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. (Isaiah 6:9-12) Do not neglect the hour of your salvation Islam for the Lord Jesus Christ, Mashiach of Israel is coming on the clouds with judgement in His mouth. Repent therefore whilst the hour is with you. Islam says that Israel rejected their Messiah and so Islam says we have received Him as a prophet of God. It is written: ““Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. “For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’ “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:22–42)
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 19:43:45 +0000
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