Jesus Is The Christ The Messianic Testimony Of The Gospels

Who do the Gospels say Jesus is? The title and role of "Messiah" ascribed to Jesus in the Gospels has long been regarded as a late add on, a fabricated claim or an insignificant feature. Michael Bird, however, argues that the Gospels' messianic claims are the most significant feature of their portrayal of Jesus. Bird describes how each Evangelist portrays Jesus as the Messiah of Israel, what they think is at stake in that claim, and how the claim that "Jesus is the Messiah" drives the purpose and shape of the Gospels. Emphasizing that Christianity was a messianic movement rooted in its Jewish context, Bird points toward the profound theological implication of Jesus' identity: that Jesus' messiahship is the "mother of all Christology."

Explains the importance of the title and role of Messiah in each of the Gospels and argues that Christianity was a messianic movement rooted in its Jewish context. Michael Bird engages the subject of the messianism of the four Gospels. While the title and role of 'Messiah' ascribed to Jesus in the Gospels has long been regarded as a late add on, a fabricated claim, or an insignificant feature, Bird argues in contrast that the messianic claims are the most significant for the portrayal of Jesus.

"Jesus the Messiah" is a basic, non-technical introduction to the life of Christ, carefully tracing His life and works as evidence of the truth of His claims and of the firm convictions of the early Christians--an inspirational study of Christ's life. The author prefaces his work by admitting that "Many deny the possibility of writing a life of Jesus, and it must be conceded that no 'life' in the biographical sense can be written. It is impossible to produce a psychological study of Jesus. His developing awareness of messianic mission cannot be traced. This book presents an account of Jesus from the perspective of faith. It sees in His deeds and words evidence of the truth of His claims and of the firm convictions of the early Christians. . . . No one who reflects on His life and mission can fail to be affected by it, and in this sense the present study is in the nature of a personal testimony."

In this book, through a distinctive evangelical and critical approach, Michael Bird explores the historical development of the four canonical Gospels. He shows how the memories and faith of the earliest believers formed the Gospel accounts of Jesus that got written and, in turn, how these accounts further shaped the early church. Bird's study clarifies the often confusing debates over the origins of the canonical Gospels. Bird navigates recent concerns and research as he builds an informed case for how the early Christ followers wrote and spread the story of Jesus -- the story by which they believed they were called to live. The Gospel of the Lord is ideal for students or anyone who wants to know the story behind the four Gospels. Watch an interview with Michael Bird from our Eerdmans Author Interview Series:

Using as a starting point Jesus’ own claim that the Scriptures spoke about Him, this book traces how He fulfilled the Old Testament promise of a coming Messiah. The Old Testament was like a solid and reliable signpost, while the gospels were the good news of his coming, to be followed by the inspired commentary of the New Testament letters about Messiah. It all ends with a great Messianic celebration.