Why Jesus Failed “Jewish Messiah 101”

For two hundred years prior to the birth of Jesus, many Jews in the Hellenistic period anticipated a heavenly deliverance from their earthly oppressors.  It began in earnest around the time of the Maccabean Revolt (167-160 BC) and actively continued beyond the Apostolic age.

Before the birth of Jesus Christ, Judea had languished for centuries under the domination of various empires, beginning with Babylon, then Persia, followed by Greece (the era of the Maccabean Revolt) and finally dominated by Rome.  With only sporadic moments of self-governance during this time, it is safe to say that from the time of Antiochus IV (d. 164 BC), the Jews were increasingly hopeful for a messianic era where a utopian nationalism could finally be achieved.  The Book of Daniel had alluded to this ultimate deliverance and Jewish apocalyptic writers further fueled a longing for, and expectation of, complete victory over Gentile rule.  Scholars of Jewish History note that this utopian “longing” was not a part of typical Hebrew orthodoxy.  In Salo Baron’s A Social and Religious History of the Jews, he notes that Messianic expectations formed the root “of all heterodox groups.”  Indeed, it found a home among the more extreme nationalists, like the Zealots, rather than the Pharisees and Sadducees.  Still, like the enthusiasm that many evangelicals feel toward the “rapture,” many ordinary Jews found apocalyptic/messianic teachings to be exhilarating.  And why not?  Who among the oppressed for centuries does not wish for a final state of national justice and peace?

Despite the scant Scriptural evidence (the “Messiah” is referred less than 50 times in the entire Old Testament), influential apocalyptic groups fueled speculation of a coming messianic era.  For the Zealots, the era would be ushered in by a great military leader who would bring final victory over Gentile usurpers.  For others, those who followed the “end of the world” perspective, the God of Israel would soon break down the entire world system and reshape it with the Children of Israel leading the way to enlightenment of all humanity.  Whatever the beliefs, and they were both many and varied, there remained a growing hope of redemption and ultimate victory.  With this prevailing mindset it is easy to understand the enthusiasm that initially surrounded Jesus, yet also the subsequent rejection of him.  An earthly utopia ruled by a Jewish King was not what God had in mind when the Word became Incarnate.   Hence, Jesus flunked the rubric for “Jewish Messiah 101.” 

When we look at what so many Jews anticipated, and what they received (in the form of Jesus as the Messiah), it is easy to understand their rejection of Jesus as the long awaited “hope” for earthly redemption.  Jewish eschatologists had preached the overthrow of Gentile domination with the advent of the Messiah!  Many, including his own disciples, were ready to declare Jesus “King” – because of their misplaced hope of an imminent earthly kingdom.  Consider when the mother of James and John approached Jesus and said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.”  There was every expectation of Jesus routing the Romans and taking an earthly throne, and when Jesus did not fulfill the hopes of the people, they became dejected.  Jesus the Christ, the much-anticipated deliverer from the hands of the Romans, failed all Jewish expectation.   

How hard it must have been for Jesus, knowing the extent of his people’s prolonged, yet misplaced hope for temporal redemption.  It is no wonder that he wept over Jerusalem. He must have felt doubly alone after his arrest.  His own did not receive him, his disciples scattered to the wind, and soon his Father would forsake him.

While the people, including the disciples, were under the impression of an imminent and earthly messiah; Jesus forewarned his disciples regarding false messiahs to come.  Heinrich Graetz writes in Volume II of his History of the Jews that “the messianic redemption was quickly growing into a necessity for the nation.”  By the time of Christ, hope of a national revolution had become embedded in the fabric of the populace – and Jesus knew this false hope would continue even after his death and resurrection.  He warned them in Matthew 24 – don’t get caught up in this!  Jesus tells them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” And, “…if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or, `There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible.” 

The disciples were probably a little perplexed by what Jesus was telling them.  It would not be the first time they were clueless.  Yet Jesus knew what was coming – they would be initially disappointed in his death, but they would remember what he had said, after the resurrection.  Then, it would dawn on them why Jesus - as the Messiah – had to die and fail their temporal expectations.    

Jesus was right – the false messiah’s did come.

When Jesus failed as an immediate, yet earthly, redeemer of the Jewish people, the hope of a Messiah continued.  Folks began to look elsewhere.  During the lifetime of the Apostles there appeared at least one false messiah we can point to; his name was Theudas.  Theudas was a self-proclaimed messiah who with a band of 400 followers declared that he would part the Jordan river and lead his followers to safety… but he was killed by the Roman Procurator Fadus around 46 AD.  Decades after the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 AD, there were still Jews looking for the Messiah.  When Emperor Hadrian outraged the Jews around 130 AD, a self-proclaimed Messiah named Simon Bar-Koseva, lead a lengthy revolt against the Romans.  The Jerusalem Talmud tells us that the celebrated Rabbi Akiva even proclaimed him to be the Messiah, referring to him as “Bar-Kohkba” which means “son of a star.” Not only did the messianic hope of the Bar-Kohkba Revolt fail, but Judea - as a separate Roman Province - ceased to exist.  Hadrian razed the city of Jerusalem, rebuilt it by Greek standards, renamed it Aelia Capitolina, and absorbed Judea (along with Galilee) into the new Roman Province of Syria Palaestina. 

Jesus’ warning extends to the Church as well.

We as Christians have the benefit not only of hindsight through Sacred Scripture – in the belief and understanding that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah – but understand too why Jesus’ warning of false messiah’s is every bit as relevant today.  Just as the Jews looked forward to a Messiah, so we look forward to the Messiah Jesus’ return; the “Second Coming.” 

It’s been 2,000 years since he promised to come back – and some folks have gotten antsy, wanting to believe he has returned.  By the 20th century, there were scores of people who claimed to be Jesus “returned to earth,” including, Sun Myung Moon (Unification Church), Marshall Applewhite (Heaven’s Gate Cult), and the diabolical Jim Jones (People’s Temple).  As many who have claimed to be the Messiah, there are also an extraordinary number who have attempted to predict the return of Jesus.  Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses) predicted the Second Coming to be in 1874, and Herbert W. Armstrong (Worldwide Church of God) predicted his return in 1936, 1943 and 1972! 

I look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ; some days more than others.  But it is imperative that we think clearly, based on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and not our hopeful expectations.  In Matthew 24:36 Jesus states, "no one knows the day or the hour" of his return.  Jesus may return today – or he may return 2,000 years from now.  We do not know, and we cannot predict, but we are encouraged to keep the faith! 

In Luke 18:8 Jesus says regarding his return, “when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” 

The Messiah came, and the Messiah will come again, and when he does come, it will be without any doubt!