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==136:1. CONCEPTS OF THE EXPECTED MESSIAH==

==136:1. CONCEPTS OF THE EXPECTED MESSIAH==

136:1.1 The [[Jews]] entertained many [[ideas]] about the expected [[Messiah|deliverer]], and each of these different [[schools]] of Messianic teaching was able to point to [[statements]] in the [[Hebrew Bible|Hebrew scriptures]] as [[proof]] of their contentions. In a general way, the [[Jews]] regarded their [[national]] [[history]] as beginning with [[Abraham]] and culminating in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah] and the [[new age]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God kingdom of God]. In earlier times they had envisaged this deliverer as " the servant of the Lord, "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.42] then as " the Son of Man, "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel#Chapter_7] while latterly some even went so far as to refer to the Messiah as the " Son of God. " But no matter whether he was called the " seed of Abraham " or " the son of David, " all were [[agreed]] that he was to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah], the " anointed one. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] Thus did the [[concept]] evolve from the " servant of the Lord " to the " son of David, " " Son of Man, " and " Son of God. "

136:1.1 The [[Jews]] entertained many [[ideas]] about the expected [[Messiah|deliverer]], and each of these different [[schools]] of Messianic teaching was able to point to [[statements]] in the [[Hebrew Bible|Hebrew scriptures]] as [[proof]] of their contentions. In a general way, the [[Jews]] regarded their [[national]] [[history]] as beginning with [[Abraham]] and culminating in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah] and the [[new age]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God kingdom of God]. In earlier times they had envisaged this deliverer as " the servant of the Lord, "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.42] then as " the Son of Man, "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel#Chapter_7] while latterly some even went so far as to refer to the Messiah as the " Son of God. " But no matter whether he was called the " seed of Abraham " or " the son of David, " all were [[agreed]] that he was to be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism the Messiah], the " anointed one. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] Thus did the [[concept]] evolve from the " servant of the Lord " to the " son of David, " " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man], " and " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_God Son of God]. "

136:1.2 In the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] and [[Jesus]] the more learned [[Jews]] had developed an [[idea]] of the coming [[Messiah]] as the perfected and [[representative]] Israelite, combining in himself as the " servant of the Lord " the threefold office of [[prophet]], [[priest]], and [[king]].

136:1.2 In the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John] and [[Jesus]] the more learned [[Jews]] had developed an [[idea]] of the coming [[Messiah]] as the perfected and [[representative]] Israelite, combining in himself as the " servant of the Lord " the threefold office of [[prophet]], [[priest]], and [[king]].

136:1.3 The [[Jews]] [[devout]]ly believed that, as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had delivered their [[fathers]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus Egyptian bondage by miraculous wonders], so would the coming [[Messiah]] deliver the Jewish people from [[Roman]] [[domination]] by even greater [[miracles]] of [[power]] and marvels of racial triumph. The [[rabbis]] had gathered together almost five hundred passages from the [[Scriptures]] which, notwithstanding their apparent [[contradiction]]s, they averred were [[prophetic]] of the coming [[Messiah]]. And amidst all these details of [[time]], [[technique]], and [[function]], they almost completely lost sight of the [[personality]] of the promised [[Messiah]]. They were looking for a restoration of Jewish [[national]] [[glory]]—Israel's [[temporal]] exaltation—rather than for the [[salvation]] of the world. It therefore becomes [[evident]] that [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] could never satisfy this [[materialistic]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Messianic] [[concept]] of the Jewish [[mind]]. Many of their reputed Messianic [[predictions]], had they but viewed these prophetic utterances in a [[different]] [[light]], would have very naturally [[prepared]] their minds for a [[recognition]] of [[Jesus]] as the terminator of one age and the inaugurator of a new and better dispensation of [[mercy]] and [[salvation]] for all nations.

136:1.3 The [[Jews]] [[devout]]ly believed that, as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had delivered their [[fathers]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Exodus Egyptian bondage by miraculous wonders], so would the coming [[Messiah]] deliver the Jewish people from [[Roman]] [[domination]] by even greater [[miracles]] of [[power]] and marvels of racial triumph. The [[rabbis]] had gathered together almost five hundred passages from the [[Scriptures]] which, notwithstanding their apparent [[contradiction]]s, they averred were [[prophetic]] of the coming [[Messiah]]. And amidst all these details of [[time]], [[technique]], and [[function]], they almost completely lost sight of the [[personality]] of the promised [[Messiah]]. They were looking for a restoration of Jewish [[national]] [[glory]]—Israel's [[temporal]] exaltation—rather than for the [[salvation]] of the world. It therefore becomes [[evident]] that [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] could never satisfy this [[materialistic]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messianism Messianic] [[concept]] of the Jewish [[mind]]. Many of their reputed Messianic [[predictions]], had they but viewed these prophetic utterances in a [[different]] [[light]], would have very naturally [[prepared]] their minds for a [[recognition]] of [[Jesus]] as the terminator of one age and the inaugurator of a new and better dispensation of [[mercy]] and [[salvation]] for all nations.

136:1.4 The [[Jews]] had been brought up to believe in the [[doctrine]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhinah Shekinah]. But this reputed [[symbol]] of the [[Divine]] [[Presence]] was not to be seen in the [[temple]]. They believed that the coming of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_messianism Messiah] would effect its restoration. They held confusing [[ideas]] about racial [[sin]] and the supposed [[evil]] nature of man. Some taught that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam Adam]' s sin had [[cursed]] the [[human]] race, and that the [[Messiah]] would remove this curse and restore man to [[divine]] [[favor]]. Others taught that God, in creating man, had put into his being both [[good]] and [[evil]] natures; that when he [[observed]] the outworking of this arrangement, he was greatly [[disappointed]], and that " He repented that he had thus made man. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_genesis#Chapter_.6] And those who taught this believed that the [[Messiah]] was to come in order to redeem man from this [[inherent]] [[evil]] [[nature]].

136:1.4 The [[Jews]] had been brought up to believe in the [[doctrine]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhinah Shekinah]. But this reputed [[symbol]] of the [[Divine]] [[Presence]] was not to be seen in the [[temple]]. They believed that the coming of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_messianism Messiah] would effect its restoration. They held confusing [[ideas]] about racial [[sin]] and the supposed [[evil]] nature of man. Some taught that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam Adam]' s sin had [[cursed]] the [[human]] race, and that the [[Messiah]] would remove this curse and restore man to [[divine]] [[favor]]. Others taught that God, in creating man, had put into his being both [[good]] and [[evil]] natures; that when he [[observed]] the outworking of this arrangement, he was greatly [[disappointed]], and that " He repented that he had thus made man. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_genesis#Chapter_.6] And those who taught this believed that the [[Messiah]] was to come in order to redeem man from this [[inherent]] [[evil]] [[nature]].

136:1.5 The [[majority]] of the [[Jews]] believed that they continued to languish under [[Roman]] rule because of their [[national]] [[sins]] and because of the halfheartedness of the [[gentile]] [[proselytes]]. The Jewish [[nation]] had not wholeheartedly [[repented]]; therefore did the [[Messiah]] delay his coming. There was much talk about [[repentance]]; wherefore the mighty and [[immediate]] [[appeal]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s preaching, " Repent and be baptized, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_matthew#Chapter_3] And the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God kingdom of heaven] could mean only one thing to any [[devout]] [[Jew]]: The coming of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_messianism Messiah].

136:1.5 The [[majority]] of the [[Jews]] believed that they continued to languish under [[Roman]] rule because of their [[national]] [[sins]] and because of the halfheartedness of the [[gentile]] [[proselytes]]. The Jewish [[nation]] had not wholeheartedly [[repented]]; therefore did the [[Messiah]] delay his coming. There was much talk about [[repentance]]; wherefore the mighty and [[immediate]] [[appeal]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John]'s preaching, " Repent and be baptized, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_matthew#Chapter_3] And the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God kingdom of heaven] could mean only one thing to any [[devout]] [[Jew]]: The coming of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_messianism Messiah].