Hebrew term for “the anointed one” who would be sent by God to act decisively on behalf of the Jewish people. There are many different interpretations of the Messiah in differing social and historical contexts. In the 1st Century of the Common Era in Roman occupied Palestine, some Jewish groups thought the Messiah would come as a military leader while others thought he would come in the form of a King in the line of David. Some believed the Messiah would establish justice for all while others believed that he would lead Israel to political ascendancy. Early Jewish followers of Jesus came to believe that he was the Messiah.
