Q&A: Was Jesus Born to Be the Messiah?

Question: I read or heard that Jesus was born and then lived such a godly life that God decided to make him the messiah. Also, if Jesus knew he was the messiah and was going to be crucified, why did he ask God 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane not to make him die?

While Jesus did live a godly life, He did not become the Messiah because God decided to reward Him. Scripture is clear that Jesus was the Messiah starting with His conception. The angel told His mother Mary that she would conceive thru the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Messiah (Luke 1:35). Throughout His entire life, Jesus not only kept the Mosaic Law to perfection but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). At the age of twelve, His in-depth knowledge of Scripture astounded the Temple Priesthood (Luke 2:42-48). He began His ministry at the age of thirty as prescribed by Levitical law (Luke 3:23). He prophesied of His death and crucifixion three times during His ministry. He was tried seven times and only found guilty on two charges. The High Priest Caiaphas asked Jesus if He was the Son of God, and Jesus truthfully answered “I Am” thus, He was charged with the capital crime of blasphemy. Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King, and Jesus truthfully answered “Yes” thus, He was charged the capital crime of sedition against Rome. He was crucified and certified dead by His Roman execution squad (Mark 15:44). His tomb was guarded by a Roman Watch consisting of 16 men plus a number of Temple guards (Matthew 27:66). On the third day He arose from His grave and forty days later He ascended into heaven as eye witnessed by His eleven disciples (Acts 1:9-11). So Jesus was conceived, born, lived, died, arose from the dead and ascended into heaven as the Messiah. Thus, we can say with certainty that Jesus was born the Messiah of mankind.

Jesus prayed in the Garden three times not because He was confused or frightened. He prayed three times to make a point to His followers concerning the reason for His imminent crucifixion. His prayer concerning deliverance from death if it be God’s will, was the only prayer He ever prayed that was not answered by God (John 11:41-42). Thus, God was making it crystal clear that the only way mankind could be forgiven of their sins and allowed eternal life, was through the voluntarily sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of His only begotten or biological Son Jesus (John 3:16). There is no other way to God the Father but through Christ (John 14:6).

The Christian Religion is the only religion who’s High Priest allowed Himself to be publicly excited for the sins of His followers. The only religion who founder arose from the dead and lives eternally. The only religion that guarantees a follower eternal life through faith plus nothing else. The only doctrine founded on the grace and mercy of God. And it is the blessing of God on this religion that has caused Christianity to become the fasting growing and largest religion in the world.

On a closing note. The United Nations announced in 2022 that Christianity  was currently the most persecuted religion in the world.