Messiah

Q: Who is the Messiah?

A: The messianic figure is a human being. Divinity plays no part in that person. While God will help elect the messiah and inspire him to that role, he is not God-like or divine at all. In the book of Psalms he is called “Adoni”. But that word simply means, “my lord,” as an indication of respect. 

The messiah, we are told, will be a descendent of King David. From the stock of Jesse, David's father, will arise a person to assume the role of deliverer. Like David, the messiah will be a fighter, a warrior, leading the Jewish people and the world to an era of peace. Once the wars have been fought the messianic age will begin to emerge.

That is why Jews do not accept Jesus as having been in the messiah. He neither led the people in battle against evil nor did he bring about a universal peace. They have been many other messiahs throughout history. Proclaimed by their followers to be the one, some of the false messiahs have wreaked havoc on the fabric of the Jewish people.  Some have even created schisms in Judaism: others have lead people to apostasy and yet others have simply proven to have been wrong. 

As becomes obvious, the real power of the messiah will only be given with the consent of the people. Without the authority of the people the messiah will not be realized.