There's the problem and the top-all reason I cannot believe in Christianity. Who knows if Christ actually said that but the fact that Christians believe it (or believe John, in any case) and it being a mandatory point which Christians themselves require to believe knocks Christianity out of the possibility of being a Messianic order, in my eyes. No thanks. The Jews founded the concept of there being a Messiah, in the first place, plus they set the rules for what the Messiah represents and what the Messiah is meant to achieve. So-called Christians taking the Messiah hostage and treating it as a revision smells of cultism, thinks I. They might just as well believe in an ariel bunny on a short-circuited, battery-driven pogo stick ruling the heavens. Again ….. no thanks. The Messiah concept belongs to Judaism and to nothing else. If people don’t believe in Judaism then they don’t believe in the Messiah either. As I see it, to believe in Christianity is like believing in dogs but that they “meow” rather than bark.
It helps to the understand the etymology under discussion. 'Messiah', in Biblical times, was not a designation of one, specific individual. 'Messiah' was anointed one, especially those anointed by God. They would include Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, Jehu, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and there were probably others, but these are/were pretty well known.
In Jesus time (and before) people were expecting a human, anointed by God, to become a powerful king in the line of David. Jesus was asked time and again if he were this anointed one (Messiah), and Jesus gave a firm, definite, No. On the other hand, he was anointed by God (Messiah) for another purpose. Jesus mentioned he was the one Moses spoke of. Moses was well before King David, therefore having no knowledge of him--or that the Israelites would eventually demand/choose to be led by a king. Moses, too, was a Messiah, anointed by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Jews are still expecting a human King, from the line of David, to become a great earthly ruler. The earth could use a great, earthly ruler. Should/when this person comes to be, he would not erase any of the other 'Messiahs' (individuals anointed by God for particular tasks). He, too, would be known as a Messiah--the Messiah expected from Biblical times.
Recall Jesus' appointed/anointed task: It was to announce sins are forgiven, repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He would step up and tell a person, "Your sins are forgiven." The Temple authorities of that day (not good ones) were annoyed, most likely because such a proclamation could affect their revenues. They said there was no such Covenant/Testament with God. Covenants in Biblical times were noted/confirmed by blood sacrifice. As Jesus' would not desist in his proclamations that he was sent (anointed) by God to announce, he was put to death, and his blood and resurrection became the sign of this new Covenant between God and mankind:
Sins are forgiven.
Do you believe sins are forgiven? Can you believe Jesus was anointed by God to proclaim this message? This is why some acknowledge Jesus as prophet. The etymology of 'prophet' is one who speaks for God. In John's Gospel, Jesus is introduced as the Word of God, the Word that was one with God from the beginning, and thereby, God. At that time, after his death and resurrection, some came to believe Jesus was both human and divine. And others could not believe in his divinity. So began the split between the two faiths of Judaism and Christianity, a split that has lasted to this day, even though both faiths have the same roots.
