To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 17:14:09 -0500
Subject: [HF] Bible Study HF067 - The Jewish Messiah
Hebraics,
I've been asked to share how the Jewish peoples and the earliest
Christians saw the Messiah. With that the in mind, the information in
this study will come from ancient Jewish writings. It will also some
quotes from early Christian writers. In addition I'll share insights from
the Scriptures.
This is Bible Study HF067 - The Jewish Messiah
The first extra Biblical mention of the pre-existing Messiah in Jewish
writings is found in the First Book of Enoch. (150 B.C.) In Enoch He is
called "Head of the Days." Also in the book of Enoch, Messiah is
called, 'Son of Man.' This term is used repeatedly in Ezekiel with
regard to someone with a special nearness to God, that is, prophet or
otherwise. (In Ezekiel it is used some 90+ times.)
Some of the Jewish writers even applied to Messiah the name of God.
From the second century before Christ on, the Messiah took a central
focus in the teachings of the rabbis. Although there were myriads of
beliefs, it was a common belief that Messiah was brought forth from
God Himself.
Here is an example of how Messiah is treated from I Enoch 62:7:
"From the beginning the Son of Man was hidden and the Most High
preserved him in the presence of His might, and revealed him to His
elect." (We will see this thought included in the New Testament. I'll
reference this further on.)
Then we have this from the Talmud. (Pes. Rab.): "You find that in
the
beginning of the creation of the world King Messiah was born and that
he emerged in the thought of God even before the world was created."
There are so many more quotes, but these give an idea of how the
Jews viewed Messiah. And these beliefs are quite near what the early
Christians believed.
Here is a quote from Justin Martyr in his 'Dialogue with Trypho':
"I shall give
you another testimony my friends, from the Scriptures, that God begat
before all
creatures a Beginning who was a certain rational power proceeding from
Himself,
who is called by the Holy Spirit, now the Glory of the Lord, now the Son,
again
Wisdom, again an Angel, then God, and the Lord and Logos; and on another
occasion He calls Himself Captain .... He can be called all these names,
since
He ministers to the Father's will, and since He was begotten by the Father
by an
act of will ..."
Notice that Justin says that Christ proceeded from God Himself. We
see this idea present in John's writings. The apostle said, "No one
has
seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of
the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18 - King James has 'the
only begotten Son. But this does not accord with the earlier
manuscripts.)
The apostle Paul makes a number of statements that if you view them
from his Jewish background, you'll see something of the ancient
mystery of the Christ. Notice:
"... but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom
which
God predestined before the ages to our glory..." (1Co2:7 - Paul uses
the term 'Wisdom' much as the Jewish writers did. Its emphasis was
toward Messiah. Earlier Paul said Christ was "the wisdom of God and
the power of God." Cf. 1Co1:24)
Then we have this; "...that their hearts may be encouraged, having
been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes
from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge
of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself." (Col2:2)
And again; "To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was
given, to
preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring
to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has
been hidden in God who created all things." (Eph3:9 - The mystery
Paul has in mind is Christ Himself, and of course, the Church.)
Another thing that the ancient Jews taught was that when Messiah
came, He would bring with Him a new Torah. They never say exactly
what is to be 'new' in Messiah's Torah. What they do say is quite
interesting. For one thing they say the Torah (Law) of Moses will never
change, but that with the Torah of Messiah, God's people will have
God as their Teacher, and they will be able to read the spaces.
(Between the lines, so to speak.)
Well, that is what happened in the coming of Jesus. Paul said that for
those Jews who rejected Jesus as Messiah, a veil lies over their
hearts, so that when they read Moses, it is without spiritual
understanding. With the believer it is just opposite. He says,
"Whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
(2Co3:16)
Listen to this from the ancient writings of the Jews; " 'New Tora'
means
the secrets and the mysteries of the Tora which have remained hidden
until now. It does not refer to another Tora, heaven forfend, for surely
the Tora which He gave us through Moses our Master, peace be upon
him, is the eternal Tora; but the revelation of her hidden secrets is
called 'new Tora'..." (Mid. Talpiyot, 58a)
Here are additional quotes:
"In the future the Holy One, blessed be He, will seat the Messiah
in the
supernal Yeshiva [House of Study], and they will call him 'the Lord,'
just as they call the Creator..." (Yemenite Midrash, pp. 349-50)
"In the Future to Come, the Name [i.e. God], blessed be He, will
reveal
to us even the meaning of the blank spaces of the Tora..." (Imre
Tzaddiqim)
Another interesting teaching by the Jews had to do with the coming of
Messiah. Listen carefully and you will hear the Old Testament and the
New Testament brought together. This is from B. Sanh. 98a
(Babylonian Talmud.):
"R. Alexandri said, 'R. Y'hoshu'a ben Levi explained ... "If
they will be
righteous, the Messiah will come on the clouds of heaven (Daniel 7:13); if
they
be not righteous he will come as a poor man riding an ass..."
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass, this would have fulfilled
the ancient teaching of the Jews being unworthy. Zechariah 9:9 says,
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of
Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed
with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the
foal of a donkey."
How about His second coming? We read, "And then the sign of the
Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
the sky with power and great glory." (Matt24:30)
It has recently been said by a Jewish author that Judaism and
Christianity are mirror reflections of one another. This is true in many
respects. One thing for certain, in order for the Jew to become
righteous, he must turn to Jesus. And, believe it or not, this very thing
is happening. The Jews have been reclaiming Jesus to their history,
and many are accepting Him as their own Messiah.
The study is open. Feel free to share your thoughts.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)