Messiah's Job Description

Introduction

When you’re looking for a job you might thumb through a newspaper, Facebook ads, or Ziprecruiter and find some important information: the specific field you want, the job description and responsibilities, the employer, and benefits. Some of the boxes might be checked but others could be sorely lacking. If some of these elements are out of alignment you will skip the position in search of a better fit.

What about the job of Messiah? The Jews were in search of God’s Anointed One for a millennia. As time went on and more prophets declared the glories to come through the Christ they waited in eager anticipation. But what would this Messiah look like? What’s His job? What can we expect from Him and what are the benefits?

Jesus knew what it meant to be the Messiah, the good, bad, and the ugly. Even so, He decided to come to earth as the Christ.

Jesus knew what He was getting into, but do we understand the fullness of the job Jesus came to accomplish as God’s Messiah?

David wrote a Psalm that was both, an encouragement to him (having the Lord on His side), but also a Messianic prophecy (looking forward to the day when God sends His Anointed One). We get the job description of the Messiah and we get to see how Jesus fits the bill. (Turn to Psalm 110).

I. Lord (v. 1-3)

A. He is the Lord who sits on the throne (v. 1): (Matthew 22:41-46) and answer with Acts 2:34-36.

1.This is telling of a few things:

a. David speaks of God speaking to his personal Lord, the One he was looking forward to (the Messiah). The Lord was seated at God’s right hand, a place of honor and authority (which means, the Messiah’s boss is God)

b. God gives the Messiah authority. He rules until His enemies are His footstool

2. The Lord rules from His throne while surrounded by enemies (v. 2)

a. Even so, His subjects voluntarily stand by Him and follow His orders (v. 3)

b. From the very beginning of the Messiah’s rule, His people follow Him with zeal and vigor (like the strength of youth)

B. This image of David’s Lord sitting on his throne (a descendant of David being greater than him and ruling over him) baffled believers

1.Jesus even voiced this to the Pharisees who were trying to trip Him up with questions (Matthew 22:41-46). No one was able to answer Jesus’ query

a. However, Peter answer that question on the day of Pentecost, still quoting verse 1 (Acts 2:34-36)

b. God gave Jesus all authority at His resurrection (Matthew 28:18)

c. Jesus now rules until God puts all His enemies under His feet, the final enemy to be defeated is death (1 Corinthians 15:22-26)

2. Jesus conquered His enemies and now rules in the midst of them

a. He rules from Zion, not physical Jerusalem, but spiritual Jerusalem (the church) Hebrews 12:22 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,”

b. We are His loyal subjects who serve Him with zeal and vigor from the beginning on to eternity

3. The Messiah is meant to be the Lord, greater than David and Ruler of all. Jesus...

a. Defeated Satan, crushing him underfoot at the resurrection

b. Conquering death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it

c. Sits at the right hand of God with all authority

d. Jesus leads His people through His Word to ultimate victory

II. High Priest Forever (v. 4)

A. The second job description is priest

1.Under the Law of Moses (when David lived and wrote) descendants of Aaron were priests and descendants of David were kings. They could not mix

a. Yet, David says that the Messiah would be a priest and that God would not change His mind about this

b. He would be a priest like Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a unique individual who was both King and Priest (Genesis 14).

2. The Messiah would hold two offices: King of His people (Lord) but also Priest (intercessor, lead worshiper)

a. Under the Law of Moses the High Priest would offer a sacrifice on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of the whole congregation of Israel

b. He would go into the Holy of holies (the only one allowed to do so) and offer the sacrifice, dropping the blood on the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. This was offering an unblemished sacrifice in the presence of God to pay for the transgressions of all the people

B. Jesus is a Priest forever and is the only one who can pay for the sins of mankind

1.His priesthood is unique:

a. He will function as a priests forever (Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”) and that will never change

b. He has gone directly to heaven for the purpose of interceding (Hebrews 6:19–20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”)

c. Jesus not only intercedes but is the sacrifice by which our sins are atoned for (Colossians 1:19–22 “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”)

d. There will never be another person to take over the priesthood. Jesus was appointed by God, has chosen not to change His mind, lives forever to intercede, and is the sacrifice that brings salvation

2. Jesus is both King and Priest, just like Melchizedek. We pay homage to Him and trust His power and intercession to make us right with God the Father.

III. Judge (v. 5-6)

A. The Messiah will judge (force into submission) those who reject His Lordship and Priestly ministry (v. 5-6)

1.God and the Messiah will stand side by side in pursuit of the enemy

2. He will and has shattered kings (namely, Satan above all)

3. All nations will be judged, not just the people of God and those found guilty will die

B. Jesus is the Judge

1.He will judge all nations, the living and the dead, all will go through the court room of the Christ

a. John 5:22 “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,”

b. We do not like that picture. We prefer to think about Him as the Savior, not the Judge

c. Since He is the Savior then He has no choice but to judge

2. John 3:16–18 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

a. Jesus is the only way for forgiveness, for reconciliation with the Father, for a hope to eternal life. Any other way leads to condemnation

b. If Jesus is to enforce eternal life by faith then He must also enforce the condemnation of any other way. People have chosen condemnation freely

3. Ultimately, Jesus brought destruction and wrath upon Satan and his reign at the resurrection

a. People who stand with the devil will not endure, they will fall along with their leader

b. Jesus is the only way to mercy, salvation, and hope. The opposition has no chance. Jesus is the Judge of all words, actions, and attitudes of the heart.

4. The servants of Christ need not fear His judgment, for His sacrifice has paid the penalty already

a. 1 John 4:15–18 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

b. The condemnation and wrath of judgment is reserved for those who do not know God and who have not obeyed the gospel. Jesus is Judge but He is also our High Priest and our King

IV. Victory (v. 7)

A. The Messiah will bring about total victory for His people (v. 7)

1.His victory is so sure that He stops to refresh Himself by a stream, then lifting up His head and finishing the judgment of the enemy

2. He and His kingdom will enjoy freedom from the enemy in peace

B. Jesus is the Judge who condemns, but He is also the Mediator who brings hope and the sacrifice that reconciles

1. Strength is renewed just as an exhausted soldier is refreshed by a drink of water and he lifts his head (v. 7)

a. Jesus is the only victory and assurance of a right standing with God

b. He has defeated sin, He has defeated the devil, He has conquered death and will eradicate it when He returns!

2. Jesus is victorious! He gives us the victory, He is our victory.

Conclusion

Many through the years have tried to be the Messiah, either pretending to be or deceiving themselves into thinking they are in a prominent position. How many of us want to fulfill this job description? How many of us can? Could we be Lord of all creation? Priest and sacrifice before God? The Judge of all? Can we bring absolute victory to others?

Only Jesus fits the bill. He is the Messiah and He is our Hope and stay, our salvation, our victory, our lives. Let us be like the servants of the Lord in the Psalm: freely volunteering our bodies and lives to the power of Christ. Serve and worship Him with all you are.