Table of Contents
Why is the Messiah important?
Many Jews today believe that God will one day send a Messiah who will lead the world into an age of peace and understanding. The word Messiah, which is Mashiach in Hebrew, means ‘anointed one’. It comes from the time when kings were anointed as a sign of their God-given power.
Why is it important that Jesus is the Messiah?
Throughout the New Testament there is evidence of Jesus as the chosen one through his resurrection from the dead and the miracles he performed. The Messiah was sent to save humanity, and this salvation came about through his death and resurrection. Through this statement Jesus is confirmed as the Messiah.
What is the concept of messianism in Judaism?
The concept of messianism originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible a messiah is a king or High Priest traditionally anointed with holy anointing oil. However, messiahs were not exclusively Jewish, as the Hebrew Bible refers to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, as a messiah for his decree to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple.
Why should Jews pray for the Messiah?
It is therefore important for Jews to pray for the Messiah, also known as the ‘redeemer’, to come. Human beings are responsible for bringing peace to the world. Instead of praying for a Messiah, Jews should pray for a Messianic Age, which will be an age of peace.
Is the Messiah the most important concept in the Bible?
Since the Bible makes no explicit reference to the Messiah, it is unlikely that it could be considered the most important concept in the Bible. Indeed, in Jewish thought, the Messianic idea is not the most crucial. However, in Christian thought, the Messiah is paramount- a difficulty in light of its conspicuous absence from scripture.
Do Reform Jews believe there will be a messiah?
Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism generally do not accept the idea that there will be a Messiah. Some believe that there may be some sort of “messianic age” (the World to Come) in the sense of a “utopia”, which all Jews are obligated to work towards (thus the tradition of Tikkun olam).