Wanted: The Messiah

Wanted: The Messiah

The Jewish tradition of “The Messiah” has its foundation in numerous biblical references, and understands “The Messiah” to be a human being - without any overtone of deity or divinity - who will bring about certain changes in the world and fulfill certain criteria before he can be acknowledged as “The Messiah”.

* First of all, he must be Jewish (Deuteronomy 17:15)
* He must be a member of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
* He must be a direct male descendant of King David and King Solomon, (2 Samuel 7:12 - 13)
* He must gather the Jewish people from exile and return them to Israel (Isaiah 11:12)
* He must rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:26 - 27)
* He will rule at a time of world-wide peace (Micah 4:3)
* He will rule at a time when the Jewish people will observe G-d’s commandments (Ezekiel 37:24)
* He will rule at a time when all people will come to acknowledge and serve one G-d (Isaiah 66:23)

All of these criteria are best stated in the book of Ezekiel Chapter 37 verses 24-28:
“And David my servant shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. they shall also follow My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Yaakov my servant, in which your fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell there, they and their children, and their children’s children forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, which I will give them; and I will multiply them and I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. And my tabernacle shall be with them: and I will be their G-d and they will be my people. Then the nations shall know that I am the L-rd who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary will be in the midst of them forevermore.”

Anyone can claim to be “the messiah” or a group of people can claim that a particular individual is “The Messiah.” However, if that individual fails to fulfill even one of these conditions, then the conclusion is obvious. Than person clearly cannot be “the Messiah.”

Hundreds have made the claim. Not one has fulfilled all the conditions. (an “installment plan” isn’t an option!) As Jews, we prefer to wait for the “real thing,” according to God’s promise and guideline.