Messianic Expectation

Ms Murtagh

The Jews waited expectantly for the coming of the Messiah

Can anyone tell me why the Jews were waiting for a Messiah?

Palestine in the First century was part of the Roman Empire. The Roman occupation caused a lot of political unrest in the country. The Jewish population longed for the Messiah, a great leader who would restore their freedom.

The Prophets

The Jews believed God spoke to them throw the prophets.Can anyone tell me who Prophets were?

The prophets were holy men and women who carried messages from God. They told of God’s promise to send a great leader to guide and rule the Jewish people.

Can anyone name a Prophet? Prophets such as Jeremiah and Isaiah said a descendant

of King David would rule over Israel at a future time.The Jews had a troubled history, several times their land

was invaded and their cities destroyed.They were ruled by the Persians, the Greeks, and then by

the Romans. The Jews yearned for freedom and the only thing that Kept them going was the belief that God would send them a great leader to set them free.

The Messiah

The Jewish had a special name for a leader sent by God, he was called a Messiah.Can anyone tell me what they word Messiah means?

The word Messiah means “anointed one”. In ancient Judaism all new leaders, such as kings,

and high priests were anointed or blessed with oil. Can anyone tell what this is sign off?

It was a sign that they were chosen by God for an important task.

David, Israel’s greatest King, was anointed with oil at the start of his reign. People looked back to David’s time as a ‘Golden age’ when they were a free and proud Jewish nation.

Different Viewpoints Many Jews expected the Messiah would be a king,

someone wealthy and powerful, like King David of old. A great king who would secure their freedom and make them a powerful nation once more.

Others expected the Messiah to be a great warrior, someone brave and courageous who would use force to drive the Romans out of Palestine.

Whatever their viewpoint all Jews lived in hope that a messiah would arrive and there would be peace in Palestine at last.Can anyone tell me who Christians believe their

Messiah to be today? Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah and Jews

believe that their Messiah is yet to come.

Please answers the following Questions

1. Name two prophets in the Old testament?2. What was the role of the prophet in the Old

Testament Times?3. Who invaded Palestine at different times

BEFORE the time of Jesus?4. What title did the Jews give to the great

leader they were expecting?5. What does the title MESSIAH mean?6. What the Jew’s expect the Messiah to be like?7. What did they expect the Jews expect the

Messiah to do?