Why are the Jews waiting for the Messiah?
Throughout the ages the Jewish people have been waiting for the Messiah to come to save them. When He did, many of the Jews were expecting a political leader to free them from Roman rule.
What would the Messiah have to be to get Israel?
The Messiah would have to be a charismatic leader to get the whole nation of Israel to follow Him. They would be looking for fair judge (Jer. 33: 15). But the Israelites were told in Isaiah 11: 11-12; Jeremiah 23: 3, 30:3; and Hosea 3:5 that God would regroup the remnant from exile through the Messiah.
How long did the Jews have to wait for the king?
We know that the Jewish people had been waiting for the King to come for hundreds of years. Men and women taught their children and grandchildren all about God’s promise to send the King. Each generation hoped that their generation would be the one to welcome the King.
What is the expectation of the Jewish Messiah?
Strictly from the gospel accounts, the expectation of the Jewish Messiah comes through clearly. For example, Simeon and Anna ( Luke 2) both understood the importance of Jesus's birth, and Simeon in particular detailed the Messiah's role as "a light of revelation to the Gentiles [non-Jewish nations]."
What happened in the 400 years between the Old and New Testament?
The 400-year period between the Old Testament and New Testament is called the Intertestamental Period about which we know a great deal from extra-biblical sources. This period was violent, with many upheavals that affected religious beliefs.
What were the 400 silent years?
It is roughly contiguous with the Second Temple period (516 BC-70 AD) and encompasses the age of Hellenistic Judaism. It is known by some members of the Protestant community as the "400 Silent Years" because it was a span where no new prophets were raised and God revealed nothing new to the Jewish people.
Why did the Israelites need a Messiah?
The Jews, God's chosen people, believed that a Messiah would come to save them. The land of Palestine was ruled by the Romans, and many Jews expected the Messiah to be a military figure who would fight the Romans and drive them out.
When was the Messiah first mentioned?
Written By Grace Theological Seminary. The first biblical prophecy and whisper of the need for a Messiah is uttered in Genesis 3:15 after Adam and Eve chose to follow the voice of the deceiver instead of the voice of Truth.
How many years was it between Moses and Jesus?
This popular 4,000 year theological timespan, which ends with the birth of Jesus, differs from the 4,000 timespan later proposed for the Masoretic text alone, which ends with the Temple rededication in 164 BCE.
How many years were the Israelites in captivity?
70 yearsAmong those who accept a tradition (Jeremiah 29:10) that the exile lasted 70 years, some choose the dates 608 to 538, others 586 to about 516 (the year when the rebuilt Temple was dedicated in Jerusalem).
What does the Old Testament say about a Messiah?
The biblical Old Testament never speaks of an eschatological messiah, and even the “messianic” passages that contain prophecies of a future golden age under an ideal king never use the term messiah.
Who foretold the coming of the Messiah?
Isaiah 9:6—Isaiah prophesies that Jesus Christ will come as a baby; Jesus is described by several names. Micah 5:2—Micah prophesies that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem. Matthew 2:4–6—The scribes knew that Bethlehem was the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah.
Who prophesied the birth of Jesus in the Old Testament?
IsaiahIsaiah was a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, he was said to have found his calling as a prophet when he saw a vision in the year of King Uzziah's death. Isaiah prophesized the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Who is the first Messiah?
JudahThe original Messiah was the Essene "Teacher of Righteousness". He was 60 years old and his name was Judah. He lived during the late 1st Century BCE, at which time the Jewish nation was at war with itself - Alexander Jannaeus and the Sadducees vs. the Pharisees.
Where in the Bible does it say God was silent for 400 years?
the book of MalachiBut 400 years ago, I remember nothing. But God remembers. He spoke in the book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, and then it was quiet. Quiet for 400 years.
How many years were the Israelites in Egypt?
430 yearsThe Book of Exodus itself attempts to ground the event firmly in history, dating the exodus to the 2666th year after creation (Exodus 12:40-41), the construction of the tabernacle to year 2667 (Exodus 40:1-2, 17), stating that the Israelites dwelled in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40-41), and including place names ...
When was God silent in the Bible?
When the book of Malachi comes to an end, the curtain draws to a close on the Old Testament and God goes silent. There's no word from God, there are no prophets from God, there are no scriptures written by God during this time.
What happened in the intertestamental period?
At times during the intertestamental period temple services were interrupted, but the rites continued during most of that period. Priests made the proper sacrifice on the great altar, and the people continued to pray daily as a priest offered incense upon the altar in the holy place.
Messianic Hope in The Pentateuch
As we should come to expect, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) reveals much about the coming Messiah, in broad and general...
Messianic Hope in The Period of Conquest
In the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, there is very little emphasis on the coming Messiah. In the Book of Ruth Boaz is a picture, a type, of Me...
Messianic Hope in The Period of The United Kingdom
The Israelites wearied of judges and demanded to have a king, like the other nations:Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Sa...
Messianic Hope in The Divided Kingdom
In the untied kingdom of Israel, as ruled by kings Saul, David, and Solomon, things were not perfect. Saul had to be removed (1 Samuel 15), David s...
Messianic Hope in The Exile
The years the Jews spent in exile were some of the darkest hours of the nation's history. The disobedient people of God experienced exactly what Go...
Messianic Hope in The Post Exilic Period
Two prophets in particular, Zechariah and Malachi, spoke of Messiah to the Israelites who had returned to their land after their exile. God's Serva...
What is the Old Testament expectation of the Messiah?
Waiting for God: Old Testament expectation of the Messiah. Throughout the ages the Jewish people have been waiting for the Messiah to come to save them. When He did, many of the Jews were expecting a political leader to free them from Roman rule. When Jesus did not fulfill those expectations, they rejected Him, ...
Where does the word "Messiah" come from?
The word English word ‘Messiah’ comes from a Hebrew term meaning ‘anointed one’, though in modern Hebrew the word is rendered ‘Moshiach’. In Greek it is translated Christos, which in turn became ‘Christ’ in English.
How did the Old Testament believers follow the Lord's commands?
So, Old Testament believers faithfully tried to follow the Lord’s commands — principally by loving Him. They confessed their sin, and as they brought their offerings to the tabernacle they had faith that God would forgive their sin.
How many generations did David's son divide the kingdom?
But within a generation David’s son has almost divided the kingdom ( 1 Kings 1 ), and within two generations, the division is complete ( 1 Kings 11–12 ). God can destroy 99.99% of all wicked men, yet still wickedness will continue as before.
What does the Old Testament believe about sin?
Inside the heart of every Old Testament believer burned a desire for much more than forgiveness of sins. They knew Genesis chapters one and two, and they knew what a life without sin was truly like. They knew that if sin was really dealt with, there would be no more death — just like in the garden of Eden.
What are the high points of the Old Testament?
It became certains that God would send someone to redeem his people. The high-points of Old Testament revelation are perhaps Isaiah 53 and Jeremiah 31. There God promises that one will come whose life will be a guilt-offering ( Isa. 53:10) who will bear the sin of many (v12).
What does David say about sacrifices?
That’s why David can say ‘You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it, you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.’. ( Psalm 51:16–17 ).
What did the Israelites think of the Messiah?
The Israelites thought the Messiah would be a military leader. Jesus just didn’t fit their bill, so they thought there was no way He could be the promised Messiah. He seemed too peaceful. I hadn’t really studied how the Israelites perceived the Messiah would be. It ends up that their expectations created a long list.
Why were the Israelites looking for a military Messiah?
We are told that the Israelites were looking for a military Messiah to free them from Roman rule. But what else were they looking for in a Messiah? This devotion looks at the expectations the Israelite people had for the coming Messiah.
What did the Israelites get wrong?
What the Israelites really got wrong was just thinking the Messiah would be an ordinary man. But, in their defense, weren’t the prophets just ordinary men? Weren’t their kings just ordinary men?
What did God tell the Israelites?
But the Israelites were told in Isaiah 11: 11-12; Jeremiah 23: 3, 30:3; and Hosea 3:5 that God would regroup the remnant from exile through the Messiah. To them, if they were exiled because of a military takeover, they would have to be restored because of a military defeat.
What tribe did the Messiah come from?
The Messiah also had specific criteria He would have to fulfill. He couldn’t come from any tribe; He must be a descendant of Judah (Gen. 49: 10), David (II Sam. 7: 12-16), and Solomon (I Chron. 22: 10). Family mattered.
What does Isaiah 9:6 mean?
Isaiah 9: 6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NIV emphasis added). This is another instance of the use of names — a practice very important to the Israelites.
How often did the Jubilee happen?
The Jubilee happened every 50 years. It was a time of rest, as the land was given a time to rejuvenate. Things went back to their original owners. If an Israelite person had to sell something, like the house, it could be reclaimed in Jubilee. Those Israelites who had become slaves were set free.
What did Maimonides say about the messianic era?
Maimonides states emphatically that none of the laws of nature will be altered in the messianic era. Instead, he envisions a world governed by a King Messiah who is wise, righteous, just, and politically adept. There will be no servitude to foreign powers and there will be peace.
Who said that the laws of nature will not be altered in the messianic era?
There is no single authoritative Jewish belief about redemption, but the one the speaks most powerfully to me is from the medieval teacher Maimonides (known to Jews as the Rambam) in his treatise The Mishneh Torah. Maimonides states emphatically that none of the laws of nature will be altered in the messianic era.
What will happen in a redeemed world?
In a redeemed world, swords will be turned into ploughshares, nobody will go hungry, the powerless will not be oppressed, and justice will prevail everywhere. This was the vision of the Biblical Prophets, and it remains the foundation of Jewish hope for the future.
Is the Messianic Era within our reach?
I do agree, however, that the messianic era is within our reach, without any suspension of the laws of nature. The more that we work collectively to end poverty and injustice and hate and war, the closer we get to ushering in the messianic era—a time when all people will live according to the will and wisdom of God.
What is the expectation of the Jewish Messiah?
For example, Simeon and Anna ( Luke 2) both understood the importance of Jesus's birth, and Simeon in particular detailed the Messiah's role as "a light of revelation to the Gentiles [non-Jewish nations]." When the magi arrived ( Matthew 2 ), the scholars in Israel directed them to Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace.
What does Gamaliel say about the Messiah?
In Acts 5:36-37, Gamaliel hints at the Messiah "fever" of the age . Two other men at around the time of Jesus had gathered a following by claiming to be the Christ. Neither, however, could fulfill the prophetic requirements, and consequently their followers dispersed.
Who was the Baptist who confessed to Jesus?
John the Baptist, in answer to the priests and Levites sent from Jerusalem, immediately confesses he is not the Messiah ( John 1:20 ). The apostle Andrew calls his brother, Peter, to Jesus by saying, "We have found the Messiah" ( John 1:41 ).
Did the Jewish rabbis believe in the Messiah?
Beyond the Bible, Jewish rabbis had long expected and made reference to the Messiah based mostly on Old Testament prophecies. A review shows that their statements align with the New Testament fulfillment: His existence before the creation of the world; His preeminence over Moses and the angels; His sufferings; His violent death for His people;
What did the Israelites call the Messiah?
Without knowing the King’s name, the Israelites called Him Messiah, which means: the One who is chosen by God. For hundreds of years, the people waited for their King, Messiah. Optional for younger students: Teacher, tap your wristwatch, to indicate waiting. The Israelites wondered what the King would look like.
What did the Israelites do in the Old Testament?
Also in the Old Testament, the Israelites often chose to turn away from God, and follow false gods. So they stepped out of God’s protection, and they were taken over by enemy nations. They had been ruled by the Babylonians, and then the Persians, and the Greeks, just to name a few.
What does the New Testament tell us about Jesus?
Say: This is the New Testament, which begins when Jesus came to earth. And this is the Old Testament, which tells everything that happened before Jesus came. Throughout the Old Testament, God had given the Israelites promises about the coming kingdom ( Jeremiah 31:33-34, Hebrews 8:5 ).
What is the kingdom of God?
Say: What exactly is the kingdom of God? Some people have the wrong idea about the kingdom of God. They think it’s another way of saying “heaven.” Heaven is a wonderful place that believers will go to when they die. But the kingdom of God includes more than heaven. A kingdom is wherever the will of the King is done. So, the kingdom of God exists wherever God’s will is done. We know that God’s will is done in heaven ( Matthew 6:10 ). For a short time, God’s will was done on earth. When God created the earth, everything was good and Adam and Eve did the will of God. Adam and Eve walked with God and talked with Him. They enjoyed each other’s company and everything in this kingdom was wonderful. But when Adam and Eve chose to sin, their sin separated them from God, their King. They were no longer able to do His will. Every single person who came after Adam and Eve also sinned. No one did the will of God, the King. Sadly, the kingdom was no longer on earth.
How old is Jesus in Matthew?
The first two chapters of Matthew tell about Jesus as a baby and young child, but in chapter 3, Jesus is a grown man, about 30 years old. All the gospel books tell us about a man named John. John was actually Jesus’ cousin.
What did Adam and Eve do when God created the earth?
When God created the earth, everything was good and Adam and Eve did the will of God. Adam and Eve walked with God and talked with Him. They enjoyed each other’s company and everything in this kingdom was wonderful. But when Adam and Eve chose to sin, their sin separated them from God, their King.
Why did the Jews not want to be under the rule of the Romans?
Because they were God’s chosen people , the Jews did not want to be under the rule of the Romans.
Who knew the Messiah would come?
The Jews also knew from prophecy that a Messiah would come, but they pictured him as a warrior who would crush a visible enemy.
What was the problem with Israel's expectation?
Another problem with Israel’s expectation was that they anticipated a victory for themselves alone. Their preoccupation with the enemy clouded their understanding that every person was an enemy to God.
Why did Jesus expect to be descended from David?
One reason for this expectation was that prophecy told them Jesus would be descended from King David. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” ( Isaiah 11:1 ).
What did Israel's religious leaders misunderstood?
In the long run, Israel’s religious leaders misunderstood the prophecies and Jesus’ own sayings. They failed to see why Jesus came or to recognize the wider scope of this new covenant.
What was Jesus' purpose when he arrived?
When Jesus arrived, God’s purpose was not to save his nation so they could disobey him again and fall into slavery once more. He wanted them to be saved for all time from their biggest enemy — sin.
Why did God institute the Passover?
God’s people had a long memory. The Lord had instituted the Passover as a way of remembering his deliverance from Egypt. Israel would never forget how Almighty God had opened the Red Sea for them ahead of Pharaoh’s chariots, a supernatural defeat of a concrete enemy.
Why did the Jews want to see the fulfillment of God's promise?
The Jews focused on the oppression inherent to their current circumstances. They wanted to see the fulfillment of God’s promise to make Israel a great and free nation, but sin repeatedly got in the way.
Beginning at The Beginning
- The word English word ‘Messiah’ comes from a Hebrew term meaning ‘anointed one’, though in modern Hebrew the word is rendered ‘Moshiach’. In Greek it is translated Christos, which in turn became ‘Christ’ in English. In order to fully understand how Old Testament believers viewed the coming of the Messiah, we need to try and understand what it was l...
Good, But Not Good Enough
- To express our answer to that question in the clearest way, we need to go to Hebrews 10:11which says, ‘Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.’ It’s crucial that we understand that the OT sacrifices did not take away sin. They acted as signs, pointers, shadows of what was to c…
Promises, Promises
- All this can be seen from the book of Hebrews — particularly 4:8, 7:11, 8:7–13, 9:8–9, 10:1–3, 10:11, & 11:39–40. The Israelites themselves did not have the benefit of the book of Hebrews. Yet the Scriptures still showed them what was to come, and in doing so, showed them that they hadn’t yet received all that God had in store. Principally, they looked to the covenants or promises of G…
Tantalising Tidbits
- Interwoven within this great narrative, were tiny seed-like promises, which gave little insights into the mind of God. He promised that the woman’s offpsring would crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). He promised a prophet like Moses (Exod. 18:15), even though Moses has seen more than any other prophets (Num. 12:6-9), so that there has been no prophet like Him (Deut. 34:10). He p…