| Messiah |
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Comes from the Hebrew verb mashach which means to anoint. The Messiah is the anointed one. Hebrew Practice Certain people in the community were anointed:-
Prophet, priest and king are the three great offices of Jesus. The word is used twice in St John's Gospel Jn 1:41 We have found the Messiah. Jn 4:25 The Samaritan woman uses it. The word is used in Matthew 13 times, in Mark 6 times and in Luke twice. Often it is clear it is only a title eg Luke 3:15 ... concerning John, whether he were the Christ ... Jesus appears to have been recognised as the Messiah and there is clear evidence that this formed part of the teaching of the early church. Origins of the idea The Messiah is closely related in Hebrew thinking to the idea of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It was the Jewish conviction that their nation was chosen and specially related to God. They also believed that one day the nation would enter into the visible honour, glory and supremacy of God on earth. The person who would bring this about would be the Messiah. The Messiah as King This was essentially a very simple idea based around a dream of peace and prosperity realised under a Davidic king. 1 Samuel 7:16 Isaiah 11:1,10 Jer 23:5 Ezek 34:23 Even in the later literature 2 Esdras dated from 2nd century AD the Seer sees the Lion of Judah rebuke the eagle of Rome ... 2 Esdras 12:32. In the time of Jesus this became a very nationalistic picture. Gentiles would have no part in the Messiah's reign. The Warrior King This emerges from the first idea Isa 32:2-6 - the warrior rescues his people from distress and subdues their enemies. He is to be a king who will purify Jerusalem. The Messianic Age Another form of the dream of the future is the Messianic age . Here no distinct Messiah figure emerges. The action is the action of God himself without any intermediary. Isa 24:27 Haggai Joel Zeph3:17 Baruch 4:21-25 As the political situation worsened, some were driven to the conclusion that the state of affairs was beyond human control. This led to:- A Divine Superhuman Messiah This is clearly a heavenly figure contrived in the later period of Israel's history. It was expected that he would break into history with the might of heaven. In the Book of Enoch four titles are used of this champion
b) Christ c) The Righteous One d) The Elect.
b) The Man from the Sea. The Banquet of the Messiah One of the most popular expectations of the coming Messianic age was the idea of the banquet of the Messiah - especially 1 & 2 Baruch Assumption of Moses 1 Enoch 5:6-9, 10:16-11:2, 38:1-39:8. The Messiah and the elect would share a banquet. Some texts indicate that the banquet would be on earth, others claim that the Messiah would return to heaven after the banquet and yet others see a heavenly scene. This was a popular idea of rather a nebulous one. It is drawn upon in the Gospels though Mark 2:18-22. Luke 14:15-24. Messiah at Tabernacles? Some scholars have suggested that within Judaism there was a sort of back to the wilderness movement which looked for a Messiah who would tabernacle among his people. Is the statement by Peter in Mark 9:5 referring to this idea. "Lord let us build three tabernacles, one for your, one for Moses and one for Elijah ..." Speculation at the time of Jesus There is no doubt that the Jews lived in high expectation that the Messiah would appear at any moment. This highly contagious belief was passed on to the Christians who transferred the idea to the parousia. Nevertheless there were differences of opinion about the delay among the Jews.
Messianic Beliefs a) Elijah the herald It was believed that Elijah would return as the herald of the Messiah. Mal 4:5ff. Some claimed that Elijah would anoint the Messiah. This idea is frequently found in the Gospels and much is said about John the Baptist as an Elijah type. Mark 6:15, 8:28, 9:11-13, Jn 1:19-21. b) The Travail of the Messiah Some claimed that the Messianic age would begin in travail - a period of agony or birthpangs would usher it in... Mark 13:8f c) Cosmic Upheaval Some felt the coming Messianic age would be one of terror and cosmic upheaval. This in origin was an idea taken from the prophets, who spoke in this way about the Day of the Lord. Amos 5:18-20, Isa 13:6-8, Joel 2:1, Joel 2:30, Enoch 80:4-6. d) Disintegration of the Universe There were those who feared that the Messianic age would begin by the breakdown of the natural and moral order Sib Orac 3:184-187, 2 Esdr 5:4-9, Zech 14:13-14 e) Judgement The Lord will come like a refiners fire Mal 3:1-3, Mic 1:5, Isa 13:9-11, Isa 24:21, Enoch 1:9 f) The Place of the Gentiles In the earliest speculation Gentiles do not figure prominently in the Messianic idea, but as time went on Gentiles began more and more to enter into the visions of the days to come. g) Ingathering of Israel Throughout the centuries, Jews had been dispersed throughout the world, but in the days of the Messianic time all would be gathered back to Jerusalem. Isa 11:11-12, Mic 7:12-14, Isa 35:10, 49:22, 60:4, Zech 10:6-10. h) Restoration of Jerusalem In the Messianic time, the city will be restored and renewed. The Davidic king will purge Jerusalem from the nations. There was even a thought of a heavenly Jerusalem. i) Resurrection of the Dead The idea was based on two texts in the Old Testament - Isa 26:19, Dan 12:2. The hope grew steadily in intensity especially after the publication of the Wisdom of Solomon and Psalms of Solomon. See Ps Sol 13:9-11. This became an essential part of Messianic thinking. Some believed the Messiah would descend to Sheol to lead forth the righteous dead. back to top |
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