Only a few gospel characters ever asked Jesus if he was the Messiah, the prophesied king of the Jews. He replied according to whom he was addressing.
At Jacob's Well to a Samaritan woman, whose non-Jewish status didn't threaten Jesus:
"I am." (John)
Interrogated by Jerusalem's high priest, who would understand messianic prophecy:
"I am." (Mark)
"YOU said it." (Matthew)
"If I tell you, you won't believe me." (Luke)
Interrogated by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, who might feel threatened by someone with kingly aspirations:
"YOU say it." (Mark, Matthew, Luke)
"My kingdom is not of this world." (John)
Conclusion: Jesus did think he was the Messiah, he just didn't brag on it, not even telling his disciples directly (though they inferred it). He evaded because people would understand the title as an earthly one, while he considered his mission spiritual. And because claiming the role of Messiah could get him killed. Well, they were going to kill him anyway. And nail an ironical sign on his cross: "Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews."
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Hear Mark Wahlberg scream here.
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JUDITH LEWIS MERNIT COMMENTS: So, I went to the Handel's Messiah Sing-Along at Disney Hall, treated myself to a VIP ticket so I could sit onstage and sing with members of the Master Chorale. Before we filed in, I overheard a baritone behind me talking about how "Messiah" was the "Jesus Christ Superstar" of its day -- its first concert was almost canceled because it rendered Christ as a secular man, and this, in 1742, was unusual blasphemy.
Then I found this in the Washington Post: "At the time of its premiere, though, 'Messiah' represented a radical secularization of the life of Christ that was opposed by some pious Christians. Jonathan Swift, then dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, almost scuttled the premiere by initially forbidding the cathedral's choristers from taking part in the performance because of the perceived crossing of sacred-secular lines."
It made me love it all the more.