Upon the correct answer to this question hangs not only the hope of the Jewish nation of Israel, but the salvation of Gentiles as well.

Messiah is the English translation of the Hebrew word, "mashiach," and means "anointed." In the Septuagint version (the Greek translation of the Old Testament Hebrew) the word is translated, "Christ," or "the Christ." This links Messiah and Christ together in meaning—"the Anointed."

In Psalm 2:2 where we read, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed," His "Anointed" is Mashiach, Messiah, or, Christos, Christ.

In Daniel 9:25,26, Messiah is seen as the One who was cut off after 483 years of Daniel's prophecy of 490 years and having nothing. This refers to the time our Lord rode into Jerusalem on a colt, going to His crucifixion. Thus rejected, Israel was set aside as a nation to await the seven years yet to be fulfilled: a period of great tribulation beginning after the rapture of the Church to heaven. This will bring Israel to repentance and execute judgment upon the whole world by the Christ of God. The Messiah of Israel, Jesus Christ, will then bring in the millennial reign of Christ over all the earth.

In John 1 we find two of John's disciples followed Jesus "and abode with Him that day" (v. 39). The result of that day's visit with Jesus was that Andrew, one of the two disciples, went and told his brother Simon Peter, "We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ" (v. 41).

In John 4 we read of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman. After He ministered to her heart, and then exposed her sinful life to search her conscience, she said, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when He is come, He will tell us all things." It was then that Jesus said, "I that speak unto thee AM HE" (v. 26).

The result was marvelous! She "went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (v. 29). Many of the Samaritans believed on Him because of her testimony and the words of the Lord Himself. "Now we believe,…and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (v. 42).

Friend, do you personally know this Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God? Believe the record God has given of His Son. Make Him your Saviour by repentance and faith. Let the Lord Jesus reveal Himself to you as He did to Andrew, Peter, the woman and the Samaritans. John 20:31 says, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name."