Episode 33 reveals often overlooked fact that the Jewish scriptures predict not one–but two very different Messiahs. It focuses on the verses that prophesy a spiritual messiah, Jesus the Christ.
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Transcript
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The Future of the Teachings of Jesus
22. The Two Jewish Concepts of the Messiah, Part 1
The Spiritual Messiah (Ep. 33)
Daniel, Chapter 7, introduces us to the individual that the Jews looked to as their Messiah, the one who would conquer their enemies, free them from their bondage, sit on David’s throne, and institute the kingdom of God on earth. There are many passages in the Jewish scriptures referring to such a Messiah. This concept of the Jewish Messiah is complicated, and needs to be clarified to fully understand Daniel Chapter 7 as well as Chapter 2, where the Messiah’s kingdom is represented as a great mountain that fills the whole earth after the destruction of the secular and imperial governments of men.
The concept of the Messiah. The word “messiah” comes from the Hebrew word “mashi’ah” which means “anointed one.” In ancient times oils were expensive and were used for ceremonial purposes, as well as to cleanse and protect the skin. At their coronation kings were anointed with holy oil to show that they were consecrated to God.
The Jews expected a Messiah who would deliver them from their bondage. The Jews held many conflicting ideas about an expected deliverer, but they all agreed that he was to be the Messiah, the Anointed One. The rabbis had gathered many passages from scripture that they believed were prophetic of a coming Messiah who would deliver the Jews from their bondage.
The nature of the Messiah. To the Jews the Messiah was more than a prophet–one who taught God’s will or proclaimed the necessity for righteous living. The Messiah was to bring about the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. This was to be a righteous kingdom in which God, through his Messiah, would rule the nations on earth just as he already ruled in heaven.
The Greek form of Messiah is Christ. The gospels were written in Greek and the Greek word for “anointing” is “christos.” The Greek translation of “Messiah” is “Christ” and Christianity has consistently taught that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah of Jewish prophecy.
Two concepts of the Messiah. As mentioned earlier, the rabbis had gathered many Jewish scriptures that they identified as referring to a coming deliverer of the Jewish people. When we examine these Messianic scriptures it quickly becomes obvious thar they reference two entirely different kinds of deliverer–a spiritual Messiah and a material Messiah.
The spiritual Messiah in the Jewish scriptures. Although there are indeed two concepts of the coming Messiah to be found in the Old Testament, those that refer to a spiritual Messiah are few compared to the abundance of references to a material Messiah, a temporal deliverer of Israel, a conqueror of their enemies, and a ruler of the Jews who sits on the throne of David. In contrast, the relatively few characterizations of a spiritual Messiah point to a new spiritual teacher who would come to establish a spiritual kingdom for all the world. He would function as a light of life to the nations in the establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth. He would instigate a new age, a new and better dispensation of mercy and salvation for the people of the earth. He would come for all men, gentiles as well as Jews. And he would come as a man of peace, a prince of peace.
Prophesies of the spiritual Messiah. Following are some of the major prophecies that reference the coming of a spiritual Messiah. The first set of these prophecies refer to the promise of his birth as an ordinary mortal of the realm. This contrasts with the teachings that reference a material Messiah who comes down directly from heaven as a fully formed adult, a “son of man.”
14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, (Is 7:14)
2But you, O Bethlehem Eph’rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (Mi 5:2)
6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)
The next set of Old Testament verses focus on the ministry of the spiritual Messiah. In these it is clear that his work is not to bring temporal deliverance to Israel by conquering Jerusalem’s enemies, but rather to be a light to the nations and bring spiritual deliverance to all peoples.
11He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Is 40:11)
6I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (Is 42:6,7)
When he spoke at the Nazareth synagogue Jesus quoted the following Messianic verses contained in Isaiah 61:1-2, and then announced that they referred to himself saying, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled.” (Lk. 4:21) These verses clearly refer to a spiritual deliverer–not a material Messiah who comes as a warrior-prince.
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor…. (Is 61:1-2)
The following verse from Zechariah 9:9 is significant because it portrays the spiritual Messiah as a man of humility and peace. A warrior-king always entered a city riding upon a horse; a king on a mission of peace always entered a city riding upon an ass. Jesus, in his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, chose to ride on an ass. (Mk. 11:1-2,7; Jn.12:14-15)
9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass. (Zec 9:9)
Isaiah Chapter 53 in perhaps the clearest presentation of the spiritual Messiah, the suffering Messiah dedicated to the spiritual uplift and deliverance of all people–not a warrior-king come to rule Israel following his conquest of Jerusalem’s enemies. Its reference to Jesus is obvious.
3He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8By oppression and judgment he was taken away; 9And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Is 53:3-9)
And finally, Zechariah 12:10 promises compassion for the Jews who failed to recognize their crucified spiritual Messiah.
10And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. (Zec 12:10)
The spiritual Messiah as the Son of God. From the beginning Christians recognized Jesus as the Messiah of Jewish prophecy. This is why they referred to him as the Christ. However, it should be clearly understood that Jesus uplifted this concept of the expected Messiah when he accepted and affirmed Peter’s confession that, 16“You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” (Mt.16:16) This idea of the spiritual Messiah as the divine Son of God was not contained in the Jewish scriptures. It was a new revelation given by God to Peter, and the basis on which Jesus accepted the designation of the Christ. He declared that this recognition of his divine Sonship with God would be the rock on which he would build his church. (Mt. 16:17)
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