Jesus Christ
The Passion
Who and What Is the Messiah
by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D.
Despite the feverish excitement, and the near universal desire for a liberator sent by God, the Jews were not of one mind as to exactly what purpose a Messiah might serve.
In large part, this was a function of which sect a Jew might belong, such as the Sadduccees, the Pharisees, and the Essenes. Even within these groups there was no general agreement.
The pious and the common people longed for a Messiah who would usher in the Kingdom of God, banish sin, and bring freedom, justice, peace, and salvation to all makind. This was also the desire of the Essenes, a mystical sect to which Jesus might have belonged.
Those who owed their wealth and positions of power to Roman rule, such as the Sadduccees, wished only to maintain the status quo. The politically powerful Sadduccees hoped that a Messiah would never come as they were contended with their lot.
The membership of the Pharisees included Sadduccee-like collaborators, and aristrocratic priests who had created their own "hypocritical" interpretations of the Bible which some believed strayed from Biblical-truth. Jesus repeatedly referred to the Pharisees as hypocrites.
The majority of the Pharisees and Sadduccees were united in that they wished only to maintain the status quo. Anyone claiming to be the Messiah--that is, the King of the Jews--might bring about a revolution and much loss of life and wealth, and this they oppossed. Thus, when Jesus came preaching the new convenant, the Pharisees began plotting his destruction:
"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." -John 11.
Yet others hoped for a warrior Messiah, a "King David" who would slay the Roman "Goliath." These were the Zealots, a militant, revolutionary group who sought a warrior King who would fight the Romans in the name of God.
When the Romans imposed an imperial tax on the Jews in 6 A.D., Judas of Galilee, a leader of the Zealots, proclaimed: "No ruler, but God" and repeatedly called for armed resistance.
But it was not a warrior Messiah whom God promised, but one of Righteousness, faithfulness, and who would preach justice and love for all mankind. The Messiah would not strike out with the force of arms, but with "the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked." -Isaiah 11.
With the coming of the Messiah, there would be no more war: "Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." -Isaiah 2:4, -Micah 4:3
The teachings of Jesus, were those of the promised Messiah:
"And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" -Matthew 5.
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