Jesus' teaches that he is the Messiah - BUT is this the kind of Messiah that we really want?
Jesus is at trial now. They ask if he is the Messiah. This is a difficult question for Jesus to answer because their understanding of Messiah and his understanding of Messiah are vastly different things. Their understanding of Messiah was that he was going to take back their land and culture. They believed the Messiah would show up to support their best interests - to put them in power - to put down their enemies. This is the Messiah they wanted and worshiped.
Unfortunately, Jesus is not that Messiah. In fact, that is a very wrong, but very familiar view of what the Messiah is - even today among Christians, both conservatives and liberals. All too often, Conservative Christians claim Jesus backs their political views... the US constitution... their set of rules to force on others. Likewise Liberal Christians often claim Jesus backs their agenda... their set of good works to accomplish... their set of good deeds to force on others by passing laws that demand good works get done. Neither camp is too far away from what those who killed Jesus had expected a Messiah would do for them too! But Jesus didn't come to force our behavior by the passing of laws. He didn't support laws that kept us from doing wrong - nor did he support laws to make us do right. He came to transform our hearts so that whatever disciplines we live by... whatever good works we do.... are done out of pure hearts - are done out of love for God and others.
This is the Messiah spoken of in scripture. Is it the Messiah we want?
Matthew 26:63-67 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him...
If Jesus is not going to put us in power, to give us what we want and deserve for following some set of rules or doing some set of good works that we think make us righteous, then what is the point of following him? This is what is on their minds. Jesus - instead of paying attention to them - the important, powerful religious leaders - has been out healing those who are unclean - those with diseases. He has been eating with tax collectors. He has paid attention to prostitutes and those with deep scars from years of sin. He has been transforming everyone who desires to follow him. This is not a Messiah that they can tolerate. He doesn't fit into their plans. So there is only one thing to do: Kill him!
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is not the Messiah we have expected?
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