The title "messiah" then had certain political and military connotations at the time of Jesus. Jesus himself is, from the evidence in the Gospels, very cautious with this title.
MK 8:29-30 "`What about you?' he [= Jesus] asked them [= the apostles]. `Who do you say I am?' Peter answered `You are the Messiah.' Then Jesus ordered them, `Do not tell anyone about me.'"
LK 9:21 "Then Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell this to anyone."
Comment: Peter's response to Jesus's question in Mark's gospel is revealing because it indicates how the apostles during Jesus's lifetime misunderstood Jesus. Peter's answer is "You are the `messiah,' the anointed one, the human being who will be like David, namely a king who will unite us politically and militarily and kick the Romans out of our land." Notice Jesus's reaction in Mark's account: he throws cold water on the idea. Luke's gospel is even more explicit. In more modern language Jesus says something like "Hey, cool it with this `messiah' stuff." Also notice how even the apostles, even Peter himself, had to "repent," that is change their preconceived ideas and expectations about Jesus being a revolutionary who would mitilarily force the Roman army out of Jewish territory.