The Messiah Identified

I love the intricate amount of detail God provides in His word.  I don't know how many fellows named "Anah" there have been since creation, but we are given an interesting tidbit in Genesis 36:24 about Anah the son of Zibeon:  "The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon." (NIV)  People who read this would say, "Oh, that Anah."  Discovering hot springs while grazing Zibeon's donkeys would narrow down things a bit.

The Bible speaks about real people who were recognisable and distinguished from others.  It is not a collection of fanciful tales but an accurate record of people, and sometimes we are told about their appearance.  When confronted with a message of rebuke from an unknown man, 2 Kings 1:7-8 tells us king Ahaziah was able to easily identify Elijah:  "Then he said to them, "What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?" ⁸ So they answered him, "A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."  Perhaps it was not until John the Baptist the leather girdle became a trademark look (Mark 1:6).

The Scripture that distinguished Anah from other men name Anah and Elijah by his hairiness and wardrobe choice also provides a clear description of the Messiah who was to come.  He would be born of a virgin, as it is written in Matthew 1:23:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  The Son of God would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and also live in Egypt for a season (Matthew 2:15).  The promised Messiah would also be raised in Nazareth as Jesus was in Matthew 2:23.  Put all these things together and it is clear this Jesus is very singular and unique.

The birth of Jesus was announced by angels to shepherds who watched their flocks by night outside Bethlehem, and wise men from the east came far to worship Him, having seen His star that led them to where the Child was.  John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Christ when the Spirit like a dove descended and remained on Jesus after He was baptised in John 1:32-34:  "And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."  This is the same Jesus over whom the voice of God boomed from the heavens at His baptism as well as on the mount of transfiguration, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

The Bible is full of evidence that affirms Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah sent to save His people from their sins.  Many people in Israel were not sure who Jesus was, but without a doubt Jesus knew the Father in heaven and the purpose for which He had been sent.  Concerning Himself He said in John 3:14-16:  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  As Jesus said would happen many times, He died on a cross, rose from the dead and ascended alive into heaven in the sight of His disciples.  This is the Jesus I remember and celebrate this Christmas and every day, the Son of God who is the greatest gift anyone by faith can receive.