3. The Development of Jewish Messianic Expectations (Reading Questions)
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Feb 20, 2024
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Rel A 250
Reading Questions Name: The Development of Jewish Messianic Expectations
*The following biblical chapters contain the “messianic” texts most popular in first century Judaism and thus influenced early Jewish messianic expectations. Become familiar with them and the ways in which they influenced common messianic thought in the time of Jesus. Numbers 24: “The Star of Jacob” According to the “Balaam Oracle” in Numbers 24, what did the non-Israelite soothsayer Balaam see in vision? What imagery did he use to describe this future Israelite leader, and what would this leader accomplish? (24:15-25)
The Balaam Oracle talks about seeing a vision of God falling into a trance but keeping his eyes open. He is trying to describe witnessing the birth of the Savior. He talks about a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre rising out of Israel.
He uses imager of the star, scepter, and as a person in a trance but with His eyes open. This leader will have dominion, possession of enemies, and lead Israel.
Thought question: without the clarity of Restoration scripture or post-resurrection theological hindsight, how would you have understood this “messianic prophecy” in the first century? What would you have expected of the Davidic messiah based on this popular passage? Isaiah 11: “The Stem of Jesse”
According to Isaiah’s most popular “messianic prophecy,” what would the “stem of Jesse” bring to the earth? What will happen to the righteous, and what would happen to the wicked when this individual appears? (11:1-4)
The "stem of Jesse" would produce the messiah. Under this messiah's judgement, the righteous would be "reproved with equity" while the wicked would be slain.
What social conditions was the “stem of Jesse” expected to usher in at his coming? (11:6-9)
Every creature will be peaceful and equal to every other creature. No one will cause harm
or destruction to anyone else, humans and animals alike.
What national event was expected to accompany the appearance of the “stem of Jesse”? (Isaiah 11:10-16)
The remnant of God's people would all be gathered from the four corners of the earth and
Israel's enemies would cease.
Amos 9: “The Booth of David”
Following his vision of the severe judgments of God that would come upon Israel (Amos 9:1-
10), what did the Old Testament prophet Amos see would happen to the fallen “booth of David”?
What would happen to Israel during this event? (Amos 9:11-15)
Amos sees that the tabernacle of David will be raised up and rebuilt. The captivity of the people of Israel will be finished and they will be brought to a promised land.
All of Israel will be sifted, and the righteous lifted up and given land. Israel will be gathered back to their own land, and they will farm it and use it and be prosperous.
Thought question: how do you think many Jews would have read Amos’ prediction in light of their own political situation in the first century? How might this have influenced their messianic expectations?
Misunderstandings of Jesus’ Messianic Identity
According to the Gospel of Matthew, What were some of the many views of Jesus’ identity that circulated during the time of his ministry? What did Peter believe Jesus to be? (Matthew 16:13-
17) What did Jesus then tell the disciples about his messianic identity, and how did they (Peter) respond? (Matthew 16:21-23)
Many people believed that Jesus was John the Baptist or Elias or some other prophet. But
Peter believed him to be the Son of God. Jesus explained to His apostles that he must be killed and then raised again. Peter rebuked Jesus, saying this shall not be.
According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus teach as he cleansed the Jerusalem temple? At what point did his disciples understand the significance of his teaching? (John 2:13-22)
Christ was attempting to teach about the resurrection. He instructed them to cleanse the temple of all the merchandise, then to destroy it, and then in three days he would build it back up again. The disciples realized what he was teaching after Jesus Christ had actually
risen from the dead in the Resurrection.
Following Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the 5000 in the Gospel of John (John 6:1-13), what do the multitudes believe Jesus is? (6:14) What do they want him to be? (6:15)
After the miracle of the loaves and the fishes the people thought Jesus to be a certain prophet to come into the world and they wanted to make Him King. He left quickly to be alone before they could try to do so.
Luke 24: The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Following the death of Jesus on the cross (and before the disciples knew he was resurrected), what were the disciples on the road to Emmaus discussing when they were joined by the unrecognizable “stranger”? Why were they so sad? What did they originally believe (hope?) Jesus would be, and how did his death on the cross dash those hopes? (24:13-21)
The disciples on the road were discussing if Jesus was alive again. They were confused and sad because their friend had died but also because they believed Jesus would redeem Israel. When Jesus died their hopes of Jesus being the prophet to redeem Jerusalem (politically) were crushed.
What was the message of the unrecognizable “stranger” as he re-interpreted passages from the Torah (“Law of Moses”) and prophetic writings to them? What effect did this fresh reading of the Old Testament have on the disciples, and what did they come to recognize? (24:25-35)
Jesus taught of the coming of the Messiah, that He has already suffered for them and that they should have faith. Because of His teaching they asked Him to stay with them longer.
He went with them, and he ate with them. He blessed bread and wine and this was when they recognized Him.
Thought question: what does this story tell us regarding the disciples’ pre-resurrection understanding of Jesus’ messianic identity and mission?
A Post-Resurrection Reading of the Psalms
*Please read the following Psalm in the NRSV translation and with the study bible footnotes provided on LS.
What seems to have been the original
significance of Psalm 22 in ancient Israel? (see the footnote for “Psalm 22:1-31” at the bottom of pg. 750)
Originally Psalms 22 was a prayer for the help of an individual who is in great distress and then the response of thanks and praise after God's deliverance. It is about the "help" that comes at dawn, after the night.
What does the distressed individual singing this psalm feel about his relationship with God? (22:1-2) Still, who does he put his trust in and why? (22:3-5) What does this individual think about his own status? (22:6-8) How is this individual’s status reflected in the way other view him? (22:14-18) Who does he still hope will save him despite his status and treatment? (22:19-
21)
The individual feels alone and even anguished because God seems to be silent despite his
cry for help. He decides to trust God's protection regardless. He does this because he remembers an experience when his community prayed, and God did answer the prayers.
The individual becomes very aware of his own status and feels ashamed because he prays
while suffering.
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It is clear that the people around him are not believers and that as they mock him and attempt to sell his clothing as he dies, that he is from a very low social or economic status.
Regardless he still hopes that the Lord will deliver him and come to his aid.
How does the Gospel of Mark–written after the crucifixion of Jesus–use the language from this psalm of the distressed sufferer in its description of Jesus’ suffering? (compare Psalm 22:1, 6-8, 16-18 and Mark 15:24-34)
Mark references that the people parted his garments and treated him as dead, even before he had actually died. Christ makes a similar cry to God saying "why hast thou forsaken me?" just as the Psalmist did. Mark makes sure to note that Christ was scorned, despised, and mocked by the people around him.
Clarity of Messianic Prophecy in the Book of Mormon
What type of information is given by Lehi (ca. 590 B.C.) regarding the nature and ministry of the
messiah? When would the messiah come? What would precede him? What would he do? (1 Nephi 10:1-11)
Mark references that the people parted his garments and treated him as dead, even before he had actually died. Christ makes a similar cry to God saying "why hast thou forsaken me?" just as the Psalmist did. Mark makes sure to note that Christ was scorned, despised, and mocked by the people around him.
What type of information is given by King Benjamin (ca. 120 B.C.) regarding the nature and ministry of the messiah? What would he experience? Would his name be? (Mosiah 3:1-13)
King Benjamin gives a lot of information about the Savior. First, the information is a message of joy that should cause God's children to rejoice. The ministry of the Savior will begin when he descends from heaven and begins to dwell among the people. He will come from a poor background, but he will go forth causing many miracles, serving others, healing the sick, and curing all manner of diseases. He would also cast out devils and evils spirits figuratively and literally.
He shares that Christ will suffer temptations of all different kinds. He will experience hunger, thirst, pain of body, fatigue, etc. Finally, he will suffer blood from every pore.
But He will be called many names including Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, and the Creator.
Thought question: in what ways does messianic prophecy in the Book of Mormon seem to differ from messianic prophecy in the Old Testament?