Many people are remembering this season as the one in which Messiah was born as a human baby. It was His legal entry into this earth, a fallen realm filled with sin and sinners who were praying and waiting for the promised savior/redeemer, their Messiah, Mashiach in Hebrew.
The Tanakh, the Jewish Bible, contains what appears to be opposite views of the Messiah as the Deliverer of Yisrael/Israel.
On the one side Messiah is portrayed as coming in great triumph in the clouds . Daniel 7:13.
However in contrast, the other Messiah comes riding on a donkey, lowly and humble. Zechariah 9:9.
The fulfillment of this prophecy in Zech 9:9, is found in Matthew 21:1-11.,with Yeshua/Jesus’ triumphant entry into Yerushalayim Jerusalem at the beginning of the last week of His life. This marked His official presentation as Messiah King, where He instructs His talmidim/disciples to go to Bethphage (Beit-Pagei) and find a colt that had never been ridden before. We skip over this detail and may be unaware that it is a miracle in itself. The nature of the colt should have been a reaction of bucking and throwing Yeshua off his back the moment He sat on him. However instead he calmly and willingly submitted to Jesus/Yeshua as King and Creator of everything.
The riding of a donkey is symbolic of one coming in peace and being no threat. One coming on horseback however, is indicative of one coming aggressively to fight in conflict or war.
Think here of how He returns described in Revelation. This picture of duality, a twofold representation of Messiah led to the idea that there would be two Messiahs.
Mashiach ben Yosef /Messiah ben Joseph
and Messiah ben David/ Mashiach ben David.
(recall that ben is hebrew for son.)
Mashiach ben Yosef is the suffering servant, the suffering Messiah; Who is prefigured in the life and person of Joseph (Genesis). The Messiah from the house of /lineage of, Joseph. Joseph the son of Jacob/Israel, one of the 12 tribes .
Mashiach ben Yosef is one of the 2 Messianic figures that are described in the oral traditions of Judaism.
Mashiach ben Yosef is considered a forerunner and harbinger of the final deliverer Mashiach ben David. Mashiach ben Yosef suffers for the sins of Israel. Isaiah 53.
Christians see Yeshua /Jesus as the fulfillment of Mashiach ben Yosef and the oral tradition. Yeshua the Messiah in His first coming is the suffering servant Zechariah 12:10-12.
Messiah son of Yosef was slain: They shall look to me whom they have pierced. But He was wounded
meaning: that the Messiah bears our iniquities which produce the effect of his being bruised.
Zechariah 12-14 is written in a context that pictures the Messiah coming to earth as a conqueror, and it describes how he will be recognized. It will be in times of turmoil and tension in which our Heavenly Father fights for srael against her enemies and gives strength to her leaders.(12:6-8) The Messiah comes in the middle of this, in verse 10 and pours out the spirit of grace and supplication. This Messianic picture is also found in the Prophets: Is.59:20-21; Ezek. 36:25-28; Joel 2:28.
It is due to the very different descriptions of Messiah that the ancient rabbis decided that these scriptures were speaking of two Messiahs; the one who would reign as King on the throne of the Davidic dynasty and one who would suffer and die. The suffering Messiah was called the son of Yosef/Joseph after the Joseph of Genesis who suffered even though he was innocent.
In their pictures of Messiah, they brought forth the doctrine and belief that Messiah ben Yosef who would precede the King Messiah, Messiah ben David. According to them, Messiah ben Yosef would battle with Israels’ enemies, Gog of Magog and be killed. Then after this Messiah ben David would come in all His glory. Furthermore with the second Messiah coming, the dispersion of Israel would end; and all those who have been exiled will return from the four corners of the earth.
In Matthew we are given the geneology of Yeshua.
Mashiach ben David is the ruling Messiah King whom King David prefigures. The term Mashiach left unqualified, always refers to Mashiach ben David, a descendant of King David of the tribe of Judah; who will regather the exiles, set up the temple and deliver Israel from all her enemies. In this sense Mashiach is a kingly title.
Christians believe that Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah at His second coming, will completely fulfill this description of Mashiach ben David.
Today we can see with our own eyes howEzekiels vision describing the rebirth of the Jewish people and the ingathering of the exiles in Eretz Yisrael is being fulfilled. It is true that they are in the process of that fulfillment. Our eyes and focus must be on the future and the end of days / end of the age, and the age of the Mashiach ben David.
As Messianic Jews and Christians we believe that Yeshua is both Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David,. The suffering servant at His first coming and Mashiach ben David the reigning King at His second coming. Isaiah 52:13-15 + 53:12 and Psalm 22. He is also the anointed Prophet, Priest and King as foreshadowed in the Tanakh.
Many Jews are still awaiting their Messiahs first coming. It’s common for Jewish objectors to point out that Jesus/Yeshua has not fulfilled all the prophesies, and to ridicule the suggestion that some prophesies about Messiah seem to be talking about 2 different Messiahs. The Hebrew scholars refer to Messiah ben David and Messiah ben Yosef. One is the positive victorious Messiah who ushers in a kingdom of peace. The other is a suffering servant as inIsaiah 53.
The popular tendency is to think only of Mashiach ben David and ignore ben Yosef, but the Messianic Christian view accounts for both in one person. These two prophetic types are named from David and Joseph who both suffered first and were victorious in the end.
Joseph is introduced with dreams of grandeur but he was lost to Israel and actually considered dead before his dreams were fulfilled. However he had a second coming when he came back into the lives of his brothers who had once rejected him. They then bowed down to him as in the dreams and he became the savior of his people/family, 12 tribes/sons, by providing for them in a time of famine.
Even though David was anointed as King in his youth according to the Lords directive and will, He was rejected by the then reigning king Saul; and he lived as a fugitive for many years before he finally became the king of Israel. Both David and Joseph are recognized as being foreshadowing prototypes of Messiah in Jewish tradition. They both arrive amid promises, are repressed and rejected and finally raised to honor and glory.
Some parallels between Joseph and Yeshua as a type or foreshadowing of the coming Mashiach of Israel.
Joseph Tsofnat Paneach – Decipherer of secrets
Yeshua/Jesus revealed the Father John 1:18 and was a revealer of parables Matt 13:10-13
Joseph was a shepherd. Gen 37:3.
Yeshua/Jesus is the good shepherd. John 10:11.
Joseph was beloved of his father.Gen 37:3.
Yeshua/Jesus This is my beloved son. Matt 3:17 17:5.
Joseph was anointed by his father, given a coat of authority and position in family. Gen. 37:3.
Yeshua/Jesus anointed as Mashiach ben David. Heb. 1:9 ; Ps 45:7.
Joseph sent forth by his father.Gen. 37:12-14.
Yeshua/Jesus sent by his Father. John 5:30-6.
Joseph brothers hated him. Gen 37:19-20.
Yeshua /Jesus hated without a cause. John 15:25.
Joseph brothers disbelieved in him. Gen 37:8.
Yeshua/Jesus brothers did not believe in Him. John 1:11; 3:18; 3:36.
Joseph his brothers refused his rule. Gen 37:8.
Yeshua/Jesus We do not want this man to rule over us. Luke 19:14
Joseph His brothers were jealous of him. Gen. 237:11.
Yeshua/Jesus It was out of jealousy that the chief priests handed him over. Mark 15:10.
Joseph Brothers conspired to kill him.Gen. 37:18 .
Yeshua/Jesus The chief priests and elders conferred together to bring about his death. Matt 27:1.
Joseph stripped him of his robe.Gen. 27:23.
Yeshua/Jesus they stripped him and put a scarlet robe of him. Matt 27:28
Joseph cast him in a pit. Gen. 37:23.
Yeshua/Jesus see Zech. 9:11; Matthew 12:40 27:59-60.
Joseph sold for pieces of silver.Gen. 37:28.
Yeshua/Jesus they paid him 30 pieces of silver. Matt 26:15.
Joseph His bothers ate a meal while e was in the pit.Gen. 37:25.
Yeshua/Jesus His people ate a meal while He was in a pit Passover. John 13:1.
Joseph raised from the pit.Gen. 37:28.
Yeshua/Jesus raised from the pit. John 20.
Joseph made a slave. Gen. 37:28.
Yeshua/Jesus Matt 26:15 Phil. 2:7.
Joseph Taken into Egypt to avoid being killed.Gen. 37:28.
Yeshua /Jesus Matt 2:13.
Joseph Covered his robe with blood.Gen. 37:31.
Yeshua/Jesus Robe covered with blood. Mark 15:17.
Joseph filled with the Spirit of God.Gen. 41:38.
Yeshua/Jesus Luke 4:1.
Joseph made overseer. Gen. 39:4
Yeshua/Jesus The Father loves the son and has placed all things into Hos hands. John 3:35; Matt 28:18.
Joseph Falsely accused. Gen. 40:15.
Yeshua/Jesus One who has been tested but without sin. Heb. 4:15 Matt.27:23 Mark 14:11 -15 Luke 23:21-23.
Joseph Made no defense.Gen. 39:19.
Yeshua/Jesus Is. 53:7;Luke 23:9.
Joseph Imprisioned with 2 others. Gen. 40:2,3.
Yeshua/Jesus two others also who were criminals were led away to be put to death. Luke 23:32.
Joseph exalted over world.Gen. 41:30-40.
Yeshua/Jesus 1Peter 3:22; Matt 26:6;4 Eph. 1:18-20.
Joseph 30 years old before service to Pharoah . Gen. 41:46
Yeshua/Jesus was about 30 years old when He began His work. Luke 3:23
Joseph made himself known to his brothers.Gen. 45:1.
Yeshua/Jesus then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. Luke24:31 also eschatological- acharit ha yamim.
Joseph revealed to his brothers the second time.
Yeshua/Jesus Israel will receive Yeshua at His second coming. Zech 12:10John 19:37.
Joseph savior of the world.Gen. 45:7.
Yeshua/Jesus God sent his only son into the wotld so that we might live through Him. John 4:42; 1John 4:14.
Joseph alive from the dead. Gen. 45:26-28.
Yeshua/Jesus why do you look for the living among the dead He is not here but has risen. Luke 24:5.
Joseph redeemer of Israel.Gen. 47:23.
Yeshua/Jesus for you were bought with a price. 1Cor 6:19-20; Acts 5:31.
Joseph later crowned with glory and honor.Gen. 41:39-45.
Yeshua /Jesus crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death. Heb. 2:9.
Before we move on into the next month, lets’ not forget that during the first week of His life He came into Bethlehem
riding on a donkey and then entered this world –
during the last week of His life He came into Jerusalem
riding on a donkey and then left this world.
Our Fathers’ patterns are cyclical in nature and consist in many instances of leaving and entering.
Leaving always preceding entering. We always have to leave one thing or place before we can enter another.
Yeshua/Jesus left His Heavenly domain to enter ours and then left earth to enter His Fathers glory. It is the same with our lives and within each of our destined path we continually leave one phase to enter the next on our path to human and spiritual maturity. As eternal spiritual beings, we left His presence to enter into a human womb and then left that womb to walk in this realm. One day we will leave this earthly realm and enter into the joy of our Lord. Matthew 25:23.
For those whom He foreknew of whom He was aware and loved beforehand, He also destined from the beginning foreordaining them to be molded into the image of His Son and share inwardly His likeness, that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. 8:29.
Those he foreknew he destined. I knew you before you were formed “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Jer 1:5.
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. Psalm 139:16
There is only One Messiah
and He is coming soon – the second time.
Its a promise that will not fail!
He will leave His Fathers side and kingdom of the heavens to once more enter our realm this earthly kingdom.
How we leave one place or situation or relationship is how we will enter the next;
Let’s make sure we are ready for our next leaving and entering.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
