Expecting a Messiah

 

For centuries, the Jewish people had been expecting a Messiah-like figure. They did not know what he would be like: some of their ideas were widely off the mark—many wanted a military leader to help them rid themselves of their hated Roman overlords. But quite often the Old Testament prophets were accurate. For example:

• The Messiah would be born in the Judean town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, which is cited in this context in Matthew 2:1).
• The Messiah would be forced to flee persecution at an early age (Jeremiah 31:15 cf. Matthew 2:13).
• His ministry would centre on Galilee (Isaiah 9:1–2).
• Most of the Jewish people did not accept him as Messiah (Isaiah 53:3), as many did not accept the teaching of the prophets themselves.
• He would enter Jerusalem in triumph but riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 cf. Matthew 21).
• He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12 cf. Matthew 26:15).
• Psalm 22 bears such an uncannily close resemblance to the story of Jesus’ Passion that some people have even called it a Christian fake! In fact, it is provably written in about the year 1000 bc.
• In terms of ministry, this Messiah would somehow look like Moses. In Deuteronomy 18:15,

Moses says, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers’ (which means he would be Jewish).