#269 Messianic Expectations

Program #269 Messianic Expectations – 12/25/2016 Synopsis

Few Christians understand the first-century political expectations that were connected to the Messianic hopes. For most Jews, the promise of a Messiah meant political liberation from the Romans and a return to the Jewish glory years. Evangelicals have so spiritualized the Messianic prophecies that passages like “the government will rest upon his shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6) are automatically taken as a reference to Christ’s heavenly kingdom. But back in Jesus’ day, the Jews saw the Messiah in terms of politics.

Those promises of a Messianic Kingdom were loved by the Jewish party of the Zealots, who wanted to overthrow the Roman Occupation, but hated and feared by the Jewish party of the Herodians and Sadducees. Those two groups wanted the Jews to drop their Zionist dreams and become one with the rest of the nations. They were identical to the Zionist hating Jews today.

In this program, I cover the various Messianic visions of groups in Jesus’ day and make some comparisons to groups in our own day. People have not changed. Some groups want to go along to get along, others put their hopes in political revolution and new government systems. But Christ came to fix what most people were not interested in fixing – their sinful souls and their relationship with God. Because the people had the wrong Messianic expectations they crucified Jesus and choose a political Zealot instead, Barabbas. Only those who have a profound sense of their own sin understand, appreciate, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

“No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

Scripture References: Isaiah 2:1-4; Jeremiah 3:17; Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:10; Zechariah 14:14; John 5:46; Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:8; Psalm 78:22; Matthew 13:59; Mark 3:6, 12:13;
Isaiah 53:1; Luke 23:19; Luke 2:25