In my previous blog entry, I discussed the prophecy in
Zechariah 12, which talks about the removal of the blindness that has happened
to Israel (See Romans 11:25), and the resulting recognition in Jesus as Messiah
and God. In verse 10, Zechariah describes the moment of recognition:
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and
they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him,
as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one
that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
When you approach Jewish people with this prophecy,
many will argue back that this cannot be about the Messiah, because according
to the Jewish tradition, Messiah will come and put an end to all the suffering
in the world; and nowhere does it mention him dying or being pierced…
Although this is a common notion, it is incorrect.
In the Jewish writings, in the Babylonian Talmud,
there is a discussion about Zechariah 12. In this discussion, they mention a
figure which is named, Moshiach Ben Yoseph - Messiah the son of Joseph:
And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the
family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart [Zech. 12:12]....What
is the cause of the mourning? -- R. Dosa and the Rabbis differ on the point.
One explained. The cause is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, and the
other explained, The cause is the slaying of the Evil Inclination.
It is well with him who explains that the cause
is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, since that well agrees with the
Scriptural verse, And they shall look upon me because they have thrust him
through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son; but
according to him who explains the cause to be the slaying of the Evil
Inclination, is this an occasion for mourning? Is it not rather an occasion for
rejoicing? Why then should they weep?
This isn’t the only occasion where Moshiach Ben
Yoseph is mentioned. In fact, the concept of the dying Moshiach Ben Yoseph is well
rooted in the Jewish writings.
According to Jewish tradition, two Messiahs will
come: The first one – Moshiach Ben Yoseph, will precede the coming of the
second Messiah - Moshiach Ben David (Messiah the son of David), and will die in
battle.
The difference between this theory and what we know
to be true is the fact that according to the Jewish sages, one Messiah will
come as a lamb, and the other – as a lion, whereas we know that it is the same
Messiah who comes first a s a lamb, and then as a lion in glory – Jesus Christ.
So, when discussing this prophecy with a Jewish
person, it is good to mention the fact that even the sages knew that it talks
about the Messiah. Once you do that, I’m sure the Holy Spirit will lead you to
take the discussion into fertile grounds.
Stay blessed, my beloved, and stay tuned…
Thank you :)
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