Oh boy is this a loaded term, and once again we get the pleasure
of such a fascinating topic thanks to Kay, who was wondering
about the various usages, meanings and importance ascribed to
this word. The Word Messiah as it Was Meant to Be Let me start
by saying that the word messiah did not begin with what today
one would call messianic inclinations. That is, the messiah was
never about some wonderful, future savior in ancient Judaism
(which we should really be calling the ancient Israelite
religion, since Judaism would have come from the descendants of
Judea and we’re really talking about the entire area’s religion
before it was just Judea). In any case, “messiah” literally
meant anointed and referred to the king who was anointed into
his position with oil. You may recall such a scene in the New
Testament book of Mark (14:3-9) when an old woman comes and
pours nice oil on Jesus’ head. Though Jesus speaks of this as a
preparation for burial, Mark’s understanding of his quality as
Savior was not particularly de