The Messiah

Through many years of hardship and suffering, the Jewish
people have renewed their collective hope by repeating a saying of the great 12^th
Century Spanish scholar Maimomides from Cordoba. "I believe with perfect faith
in the coming of the Messiah, and although He may tarry, I shall wait daily for
His coming".

Many Jewish people have been waiting for Gods King Who has
been promised to come as a Son in David's direct line. As it is written "A
shoot shall grow out of the root stump of Jesse". This Coming One will have
Power to strike down the wicked with the breath of His lips, whoever does not
listen to that prophet will be struck off from among His people. Other
scriptures show that the Coming One will be a great leader who comes to earth
after a time of great tumult. This is known as the birth pangs of the Messiah
(Hevlei Mashi'ah). And then later He will come to restore the true worship of
God to be established among all peoples along with His people Israel.

Isaiah the prophet spoke of the Coming One and His
achievements. His Chapter 53 described what would occur when the Suffering
Servant would take our sins upon Him and die for our sakes. Many Jewish people
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, however most do not
believe that He is the correct one and they are still waiting for His first
visit. Jesus said "I will come again" and this will be when many Jews
recognise Him for the first time. In the book of Revelation, Jesus identifies
Himself as the one who died and rose again. His own statements recorded in the
New Testament indicate that He regarded Himself as the true Messiah. According
to Matthew in his account of the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 17:5) God Himself
spoke from Heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
When Peter wrote His memories of this occasion, he said, "This voice that came
from Heaven we heard" (2 Peter 1:16-18). According to Matthew on one occasion
Moses and Elias appeared and talked with Jesus.

John wrote "He came unto His own (people) and His own
received Him not". It is clear that even during New Testament times there had
been false Messiah's and false leaders coming up, gathering easily manipulated
crowds who followed them. In Acts Chapter 5:34-42, we read how a wise and great
Rabbi called Gamaliel, stood up in the Jewish council and saved the lives of the
Apostles by making a speech. In that speech he pointed out that though great
leaders had risen many times and gathered crowds, that they had all come to
nothing. "If this counsel be the work of men it will come to nothing". The
work of the Apostles has not come to nothing. It has borne good fruit. But his
advice has proved true in other cases. Jesus Himself warned us in Matthew 24
that false Christ's will come (after Him, Who was the true Christ) and even
false leaders will come saying, "I am the Christ". There have been a number
of men who have been believed to be Him, like Simeon Ben Koseva 135C.E, Moses of
Crete in the 5^th Century, Serinus of Syria and Abu Isa Yudgham in the
8^th Century.

Christians who receive and follow the teachings of Paul know
that he said he had a special revelation about the true Messiah and His people.
Paul even said Christ is in you, the hope of glory. The Messiah is not
only in Heaven, but also in our hearts in a real way and His presence is in His
called out people - the Church. The same Jesus will come again to the earth with
great glory and every eye shall see Him, He said "Behold, I come quickly".
He told His disciples "What I am saying to you, I am also saying to others. Be
ready!" When Paul wrote to the people in Thessalonica, he wrote about the
Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him. He warned
them not to be deceived, "For that day should not come except there come a
falling away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
So we can expect some trouble before the return of Jesus. At His
coming all the hopes and dreams of the prophets and waiting saints will be
realised. Because the Messiah will have arrived.