Who is the Biblical Messiah?, Analyzing the Christian and Jewish Vision

By Rolando José Olivo

Second book of the collection The Most Extraordinary Man of All History:

During the first century of the Christian era, the Jews longed for a powerful Messiah, who would free them from the Roman occupation. While Jesus, proclaimed as Prince of Peace by the prophet Isaiah, was a religious Messiah, destined to achieve the salvation of humanity and to spread the existence of God throughout the world.

For reasons of theology, national identity and expectations about a ruler and warrior Messiah, the Jews reject Jesus as the biblical Messiah and still await the arrival of their Messiah. While the Christians don ́t doubt that Jesus is the biblical Messiah.

Masterfully, Jesus managed to organize the most relevant social and religious movement in the history of humankind, convincing many Jews to accept the new monotheistic religion and extending his doctrine to the non-Jews.

Although two opposing points of view persist (Jesus is not the Jewish Messiah and He is the Messiah of the Christians), the biblical evidences confirm that Jesus is the true Messiah.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rolando José Olivo
• Release date: Feb 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463307342

Rolando José Olivo

[e-mail] Instagram: @rolandojolivo Systems Engineer with 3 postgraduate degrees: Master's Degree in Applied Economics, Diploma in General Management and Specialization in Management of Social Programs (Summa Cum Laude). Work experience in companies in the oil sector, occupying these positions: Planning and Logistics Manager, Project Coordinator, Financial Advisor and Consultant. Consultant in the economic and financial area. Writer of books on economics, management, self-help, novels and Christianity, among others.

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I. INTRODUCTION

The word Messiah means anointed and refers to a Savior. While Christ is the translation of this Hebrew term.

In ancient times, the Jews anointed a person (priest or king) with oil to confirm that he is the chosen one for a great mission. In addition, the Hebrew people, who were militarily invincible during some historical periods, were conquered by other pagan cultures and expected a Messiah, who would grant them with freedom (like Moses or as the Maccabees acted).

In this regard, at the time of Jesus, the Jews longed for a powerful Messiah that would free them from the Roman government, and considering their theology (vision of a One True God, without the existence of the trinity or a prophet who can be the Lord) and their national identity (being the people chosen by the Most High), there were great expectations about the biblical Messiah. Even though he was named Prince of Peace by the prophet Isaiah, the Jews of that time expected a king, strategist and military leader, with enough resources to give freedom to Israel.

On the other hand, Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Messianic biblical prophecies, was in favor of a path of peace and reconciliation, and established a new version of Judaism (Christianity), rejected by most of the Hebrews, who refused to change their customs, rituals and traditions, and give way to new ideas favorable to love, respect and human rights. Or in other words, Jesus was a religious Messiah, destined to achieve the salvation of humanity from the influence of sin and to spread the existence of God to pagan people. Therefore, He was not a prophet that would face the Roman authorities and demand the freedom of Israel (as many Jews aspired, who were oppressed by the Roman Empire).

Surprisingly, even though the character, ideology and expectations of the Jews of that time prevented them from accepting a leader like Jesus, and recognizing several interpretations about the prophecies of the Messiah, He (preceded by John the Baptist and succeeded by the apostles Peter and Paul) organized the most relevant social and religious movement in the history of humankind, and convinced many Jews to accept the new vision of the monotheistic religion.

His influence was so sensational, that it spread to the Gentiles (non-Jews), and to-date, Christianity is the main religion of the world.

In that sense, Jesus stood out for convincing many radical Hebrews to follow Him (these efforts have been underestimated), left Peter in charge of his Church, and asked Paul to preach the good news to the Gentiles. He even proclaimed himself Son of Man and Son of God, with much pride, insinuating that He was the Messiah and strictly complying with the messianic biblical prophecies.

These aspects give legitimacy to Jesus as the true Messiah promised by God to the Jewish people, whose legacy extended to all humanity (as Isaiah prophesied). Moreover, the Christian scholars of the 2nd and 3rd century rightly concluded that Jesus is the Messiah, for having fulfilled the biblical prophecies and achieved the salvation of humankind, through his sacrifice on the cross.

However, the Hebrews, practitioners of Judaism, don´t recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and still await the arrival of their Messiah, whose vision has changed throughout history.

Currently, they expect a Messiah that will allow Israel to rule the world (subjected to the theocratic