Messiah

This web page is dedicated to the knowledge, origin, and the stand point of Judaism on the word Messiah.
I hope that this helps you to better understand how Jews view the Messiah that was to come.




The word Messiah actually means "anointed one". Although it is now used as the one who is supposed to come to save the Jewish people, it was originally the name for the kings of Israel in the Old Testament.It was later transferred to the ideal king of the future to build up Judaism as a great nation and as a vision of glory. King David's started the expectation of the coming Messiah.




The Jewish Messiah is not known, because Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that he has not yet come.



At first, only the king had the title of Messiah, starting with David, but later it included priests. This is because they were all anointed and anointed in the Lord. That meant that they were "G-d's anointed". The anointing of priests and rulers connected them to Yahweh with Yahweh's authority. This was an intimate connection between king and G-d, guaranteed and made as a covenant by the anointing. David's exceptional rule became the foundation for the expectation of the Messiah. This time period made the kingship religious(very close to Yahweh). That is why the House of David, or in other words a descendant of David, would always be close to Yahweh and why the Messiah is to come from the House of David. Although the kingship was connected to the religion, the main focus was still politics.




This is King David, the second king of Israel, and the greatest. After his dynasty fell, the Messianic belief became large.



During the time of the Old Testament, there was a Messianic Expectation for the future. In late Judaism there would be the ultimate king of the world that would establish peace and justice. The original thought of the Messiah started during David's Dynasty fell, but became widely accepted when the Exile took place.Messiah was not used in the technical sense, it was meant for the future Savior of the people of Israel.




Many different types of leaders contributed to the concept of the Messiah, which even led to the idea of being made in the image and likeness of God:
Patriarch
Prophet
Friend
Charismatic
Religious Seer
King
Anointed/Chosen
Priest-Prophet
Scribes
Priests
Wisdom Collectors



In Isaiah:61 there is reference to the Messiah or the Anointed One. This is the same reading by Jesus in the Synagogue in Nazareth.


The Messiah is always thought as directly related to the full revelation of Yahweh, or that is what is expected. Since David was connected to Yahweh, it shows that the Messiah will be from the House of David. The Messianic Age will show the triumph of the Lord in a faulty world. The righteousness of the Lord would persevere through all the evils in the world. Jews were and still are waiting for the future of God's triumph and the Messiah. The purpose of God on Earth would be through the Messiah. This is to restore justice, freedom, and peace for the world.




There is only evidence of the "Anointed One" in the New Testament. Although the man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the supposed Messiah, Jews believe that he is at best a prophet, not the Messiah. His followers are called Christians, because he was called Christ. Christ is the only Greek equivalent to Messiah and it is used in the New Testament. Christ became used regularly when associated with Jesus. His followers, Apostles, used Christ, because by that time, Messiah was unknown to many. Jesus said that he was the one who fulfills the Messianic role described by Isaiah. Although he proclaimed this, many Jews did not accept him as the Messiah and they are still waiting for Yahweh to send the Messiah.



Review Quiz


  1. What does the term Messiah mean?
  2. What connected the rulers to Yahweh?
  3. Who is the Messiah supposed to descend from?
  4. What would the ultimate king of the world supposed to bring to the world?
  5. What do Jews see Jesus as, and what don't they see him as?




  6. Click here for the Answers.



    Sources


    Gordis, Robert. Poets, Prophets, and Sages. London: Indiana University Press, 1971.

    Buttrick, George Arthur, T.S. Kepler, J. Knox, H.G. May, S. Terrien, E.S. Bucke. The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible: Vol. 3. New York: Abingdon Press, 1962.

    New Catholic Encyclopedia: Second Edition: Vol. 9.Detroit: Thompson Gale, 2003.

    Rich, Tracey R. Moshiach: The Messiah, 1998-2001, accessed 4 April 2008; available from http://www.jewfaq.org/moshiach.htm







    If there are any questions about this web page, you can contact me at kevroy@sbcglobal.net


    This is a web page by Kevin for SLUH Theology, 2008
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