When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am? Peter said “The Christ (Messiah) of God.” Christ means anointed one. The anointed one implies that the Christ is the:
1) Great Prophet. (Deuteronomy 18:15,18; Isaiah 55:4,; Luke 24:19; Acts 3:22, 7:37)
2) Only High Priest. (Psalms 110:4; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 6:20, 7:24, 9:24)
3) Eternal King or Lord. (Psalms 2:6; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5, 28:18; Luke 1:33; John 10:28; Ephesians 1:20-23; Revelation 11:15, 12:10,11, 17:14, 19:6)
4) Savior. (Duet. 32:15; 2 Samuel 22:3, 47; and 1 Chronicles 16:35; Isaiah 43:3,11,15)
5) True Shepherd. (Genesis 48:15, 49:24; Psalm 23:1, 80:1; Zechariah 13:7)
Jesus strictly told his disciples not to tell anyone (21). Why? There are several reasons:
1) The average Jew had a misunderstanding of the life and ministry of the Messiah. This is seen clearly in the Essenes’ writing and the response of the people after the feeding of the five thousand. (John 6:25-71) Later they would crucify him because of this misunderstanding.
2) The people needed to come to this revelation on their own as God inspired them (as God had inspired Peter) because they were committed and were in love with him.
3) God’s time for mass revelation was yet to come. Once the Jewish leaders asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:24-30)
Jesus referred to himself as “The Son of Man” using a title that the prophet Daniel used to identify the Christ. Jesus often called himself the Son of Man. (Luke 5:24, 6:5, 22; Matthew 13:37, 12:40, 12:32, etc.) Daniel 3:25, 7:13, and 10:5-6 all refer to the Messiah as the Son of Man. Jesus was indeed man, fully flesh undergoing all the aspects of humanity.
