The Messiah, Resurrection, and Israel

When reading through the pages of the Hebrew Scriptures, one can find many passages that foretell a coming Messianic figure. It can be argued that the Messiah is the central theme of the Hebrew Scriptures as a whole – and by extension, the New Testament as well. Many of these passages – which speak of this figure – speak of a future king whose kingdom would stretch from river to river, who would exercise dominion over his enemies, and who would judge the nations and usher the world into a time of peace never seen before. He is one who would inherit the throne of his father David – being both David’s son and his Lord (Matt 22:41-46) – and whose kingdom would endure forever.

However, while these descriptions of the Messiah are true, there are other prophecies which speak of him in a different way. It should be noted that these prophecies are not in contention with one another. Rather, they speak of different aspects of the life of the Messiah. These prophecies speak of a coming Messianic figure who would be “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces” (Isa 53:3). A man who would be assaulted by enemies, be rejected by his own people and be entangled by the cords of death. One who would cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? … my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death” (Ps 22:1, 15 c.f. Matt 27:46). He does not merely reign in joy but undergoes much grief as well.

It is in the person of Yeshua of Nazareth that all these promises are fulfilled. He who is both fully man and fully God in the flesh. During the days of his earthly work 2,000 years ago he came in the spirit and power of the Lord, being God himself, and was rejected by his own people, tortured and crucified by the Romans and died upon the cross only to be resurrected on the third day. Being God himself, the grave could not hold him but instead he was resurrected and defeated Death itself. Today, Yeshua is sitting at the right hand of the Father, awaiting the time for his return when his enemies shall be made his footstool and death is fully conquered (Ps 110, 1 Cor 15:25-26). He is the one in whom these promises have been fulfilled. This means that the death and resurrection of Yeshua were not incidental events. Rather – according to the plan of God – it was quite purposeful as a sign to the Jewish people, that he is indeed the Messiah, and the King of Israel!

As we enter the great festival of Easter and proclaim the Lord’s resurrection from the dead, let us remember the great importance of the resurrection – not only for us but for the people of Israel. The resurrection of Yeshua is not merely about our salvation but is also a proclamation to the Jewish people that he is their king, sitting at the right hand of the Father until his eventual return. Let us as the Messiah’s Church remember that when we proclaim, “The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!” we are proclaiming to the Jewish people, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Yeshua of Nazareth, the son of Joseph… come and see!” (John 1:45-46).