Luke 9:18-22

 “Messiah” is equivalent to “Christ”  Title, not a name  It means “anointed one”  Can mean “person commissioned by God to save God’s people” (Isa 45:1)  Can mean “the designated king” (1 Sam 16:13)

 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (The Covenant with David)  Matthew 21:6-11 (Welcoming Jesus as King)

 They expected a victorious Messiah to give them military power  We want a influential Messiah to give us political power  We want an empowering Messiah to give us success and comfort

 The only way out of the penalty of our sin is by the substitutionary death of the sinless Son of God who took on human flesh that he might die in our place and live righteously as our representative.  We want to make the end the beginning and the byproduct the goal.  Our primary problem is not lack of political power or success but our sin.

 Understanding Jesus as Messiah controls how we COME to Jesus  Understanding the Messiahship of Jesus controls how we LIVE (and die) to Jesus