Moshiach: The Messiah
Level: Intermediate
I believe with perfect faith in the coming
of the moshiach, and though he may tarry, still I await him every
day.
- Principle 12 of Rambam's
13 Principles
of Faith
Belief in the eventual coming of the moshiach is a basic and fundamental
part of traditional Judaism. It is part of Rambam's
13 Principles of
Faith, the minimum requirements of Jewish belief.
In the Shemoneh Esrei
prayer, recited three times daily, we pray for all of the elements
of the coming of the moshiach: ingathering of the exiles; restoration
of the religious courts of justice; an end of wickedness, sin and
heresy; reward to the righteous; rebuilding of Jerusalem; restoration
of the line of King David; and restoration of Temple service.
Modern scholars suggest that the messianic concept was introduced
later in the history of Judaism, during the age of the prophets.
They note that the messianic concept is not mentioned anywhere in
the Torah (the
first five books of the Bible).
However, traditional Judaism maintains that the messianic idea
has always been a part of Judaism. The moshiach is not mentioned
explicitly in the Torah, because the Torah was written in terms
that all people could understand, and the abstract concept of a
distant, spiritual, future reward was beyond the comprehension of
some people. However, the Torah contains several references to "the
End of Days" (achareet ha-yameem), which is the time of the moshiach;
thus, the concept of moshiach was known in the most ancient times.
The term "moshiach" literally means "the anointed one," and refers
to the ancient practice of anointing kings with oil when they took
the throne. The moshiach is the one who will be anointed as king
in the End of Days.
The word "moshiach" does not mean "savior." The notion of an innocent,
semi-divine being who will sacrifice himself to save us from the
consequences of our own sins is a purely Christian concept that
has no basis in Jewish thought. Unfortunately, this Christian concept
has become so deeply ingrained in the English word "messiah" that
this English word can no longer be used to refer to the Jewish concept.
The word "moshiach" will be used throughout this page.
The moshiach will be a great political leader descended from King
David (Jeremiah 23:5). The moshiach is often referred to as "moshiach
ben David" (moshiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish
law, and observant of its commandments. (Isaiah 11:2-5) He will
be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example.
He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel.
He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah
33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god
or other supernatural being.
It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with
the potential to be the moshiach. If the time is right for the messianic
age within that person's lifetime, then that person will be the
moshiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission
of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach.
There are a wide variety of opinions on the subject of when the
moshiach will come. Some of Judaism's greatest minds have cursed
those who try to predict the time of the moshiach's coming, because
errors in such predictions could cause people to lose faith in the
messianic idea or in Judaism itself. This actually happened in the
17th century, when Shabbatai Tzvi claimed to be the moshiach. When
Tzvi converted to Islam under threat of death, many Jews converted
with him. Nevertheless, this prohibition has not stopped anyone
from speculating about the time when the moshiach will come.
Although some scholars believed that God has set
aside a specific date for the coming of the moshiach, most authority
suggests that the conduct of mankind will determine the time of
the moshiach's coming. In general, it is believed that the moshiach
will come in a time when he is most needed (because the world is
so sinful), or in a time when he is most deserved (because the world
is so good). For example, each of the following has been suggested
as the time when the moshiach will come:
- if Israel repented a single day;
- if Israel observed a single Shabbat
properly;
- if Israel observed two Shabbats in a row properly;
- in a generation that is totally innocent or totally guilty;
- in a generation that loses hope;
- in a generation where children are totally disrespectful towards
their parents and elders;
Before the time of the moshiach, there shall be war and suffering
(Ezekiel 38:16)
The moshiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption
of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and
restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea
3:4-5). He will establish a government in Israel that will be the
center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah
2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and
re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious
court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the
land (Jeremiah 33:15).
The world after the messiah comes is often referred to in Jewish
literature as Olam Ha-Ba (oh-LAHM hah-BAH), the World to Come. This
term can cause some confusion, because it is also used to refer
to a spiritual afterlife.
In English, we commonly use the term "messianic age" to refer specifically
to the time of the messiah.
Olam Ha-Ba will be characterized by the peaceful co-existence of
all people. (Isaiah 2:4) Hatred, intolerance and war will cease
to exist. Some authorities suggest that the laws of nature will
change, so that predatory beasts will no longer seek prey and agriculture
will bring forth supernatural abundance (Isaiah 11:6-11:9). Others,
however, say that these statements are merely an allegory for peace
and prosperity.
All of the Jewish people will return from their exile among the
nations to their home in Israel
(Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5). The law of
the Jubilee will be reinstated.
In the Olam Ha-Ba, the whole world will recognize the Jewish God as the
only true God, and the Jewish religion as the only true religion
(Isaiah 2:3; 11:10; Micah 4:2-3; Zechariah 14:9). There will be
no murder, robbery, competition or jealousy. There will be no sin
(Zephaniah 3:13). Sacrifices
will continue to be brought in the Temple,
but these will be limited to thanksgiving
offerings, because there will be no further need for expiatory
offerings.
Jews do not believe that Jesus was the moshiach. Assuming that
he existed, and assuming that the Christian scriptures are accurate
in describing him (both matters that are debatable), he simply did
not fulfill the mission of the moshiach as Jews have always understood
it and as it is described in scripture,
cited above. Jesus did not do any of the things described above,
and he did not bring about the anticipated messianic age.
On the contrary, another Jew born about a century later came far
closer to fulfilling the messianic ideal than Jesus did. His name
was Shimeon ben Kosiba, known as Bar Kochba (son of a star), and
he was a charismatic, brilliant, but brutal warlord. Rabbi Akiba,
one of the greatest scholars in Jewish history, believed that Bar
Kochba was the moshiach. Bar Kochba fought a war against the Roman
Empire, catching the Tenth Legion by surprise and retaking Jerusalem.
He resumed sacrifices
at the site of the Temple
and made plans to rebuild the Temple. He established a provisional
government and began to issue coins in its name. This is what the
Jewish people were looking for in a moshiach; Jesus clearly does
not fit into this mold. Ultimately, however, the Roman Empire crushed
his revolt and killed Bar Kochba. After his death, all acknowledged
that he was not the moshiach.
Throughout Jewish history, there have been many people who have
claimed to be the moshiach, or whose followers have claimed that
they were the moshiach: Shimeon Bar Kochba, Shabbatai Tzvi, Jesus,
and many others too numerous to name. Leo Rosten reports some very
entertaining accounts under the heading False Messiahs in his book,
"The Joys of Yiddish".
But all of these people died without fulfilling the mission of the
moshiach; therefore, none of them were the moshiach. The moshiach
and the Olam Ha-Ba lie in the future, not in the past.
The following passages in the Jewish scriptures
are the ones that Jews consider to be messianic in nature or relating
to the end of days. These are the ones that we rely upon in developing
our messianic concept:
- Isaiah 2, 11, 42; 59:20
- Jeremiah 23, 30, 33; 48:47; 49:39
- Ezekiel 38:16
- Hosea 3:4-3:5
- Micah 4
- Zephaniah 3:9
- Zechariah 14:9
- Daniel 10:14
© Copyright 5758-5760 (1998-1999), Tracey R Rich
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