Jesus demonstrated many aspect of the Jewish idea of the word messiah. A messiah would be a 'warrior king' as Zechariah proclaimed in 9 : 9-10 "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. his rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth".
The zealots would be waiting for a messiah like this because they wanted a messiah who was strong and mighty somebody who would fight the Romans. He would also be anointed by God and he would be a royal person as Isaiah preached in chapter 9 verse 6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace".
He would be a 'bringer of peace' as Micah foretold in 5:4-5 "He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace
when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.We will raise against them seven shepherds,even eight commanders".
He would be a judge, as Isaiah told us in 11:4 "but with righteousness he will judge the needy,with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked".
The Pharisees would be waiting for a messiah like this because they were waiting for one who was a non-sinner and who would keep the Jewish law. He will also be a just and powerful ruler as Isaiah also told us in 42:6 "I the lord have called you and given you the power to see that justice is done on earth".
The Sadducees would also be waiting for a messiah like this but they wanted one who was wealthy and powerful.
The Scribes wanted a messiah who was a pharisee and a teacher.
The scribes and Sadducee wanted somebody who would fight the Romans.
The Pharisees and Zealots wanted a messiah who would keep the Jewish law.
By Ciara Swift