“Two Advents – Two Messiahs”
In Matthew’s gospel there is a very interesting statement that John the Baptist directs to some of his followers while he, John, is in prison and Jesus is engaged in his own ministry. From his prison cell John sends his disciples to present Jesus with a question. Through them John asks Jesus this curious question: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Please see Matthew 11:2-3) Some might interpret John’s question to Jesus as an indication that John was having some doubt as to whether or not Jesus was the expected Messiah. However, doubt could not be further from the truth. Let’s look at the then situation.
John had preceded Jesus in John’s own ministry of Baptism and announcement of the soon appearing of God’s Anointed One – the long-awaited Messiah. As it would appear, Isaiah predicted that John had a preordained mission to precede the Messiah, announce his soon appearance and to physically identify him to “all who had eyes to see.” And that is precisely what John did. In fact, John first recognized his cousin, Jesus, as someone very special while they were both still in utero! (Please see Luke 1:39-45) And then thirty years later while John was in the wilderness at the Jordan River, he sees, identifies and announces Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (Please see John 1:29-34.) It is apparent that John recognized and had no doubt that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel.
Ah, but there is a bit more to this scenario, and it has something to do with what John DID NOT say. Consider the following – but first, try to disregard our 21st century understanding of “The Messiah” and attempt to see such through the eyes of a 1st century Jew.
According to one Garrett Smith who in 2004 wrote an article “Two Messiahs in Judaism: Ben David and Ben Joseph” published on the Jews for Jesus website at: jewsforjesus.org, that there was ancient confusion as to just who, or what, was the Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament seemed to describe/predict TWO messiahs, one a suffering servant who was to suffer and die and another, a never-dying, conquering and avenging king that would restore Israel to its former glories.
Yes, in John’s day there was some confusion about the person of the Messiah; was he one or was he two different individuals?
Okay, so let’s zoom back here to the 21st century where we possess the marvelous gift of 20/20 hindsight. Yes, today we can clearly see that Jesus fulfills both manifestations/offices of the Messiah. At his first appearing nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus’ messianic office and mission was exactly as John proclaimed it to be. At that time Jesus’ mission and ministry was to be the Suffering Servant – “The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.” Now, and this is important to note, although John soundly proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God – God’s perfect sacrifice – John did NOT at any time recognize or identify Jesus as the king of Israel!
It would appear John’s preordained mission from God was not to identify or proclaim who the king of Israel was (or was going to be.) No, John’s sole mission was to precede, proclaim and identify the one and only Lamb of God. Undoubtedly, John knew all the prophecies about the person or persons of the predicted messiah. But like many of his time, it seems John didn’t know if the Messiah was actually one or two people. All John was given to see in Jesus was his role as the Lamb of God. And to be true, John didn’t need to know beyond that. It was not his place to proclaim the king of Israel nor was it the appointed time for the king of Israel to be manifested as an actual ruling king!
Please note: The idea of a prophet knowing only what was needed to know to fulfill a mission is not unusual. Consider what Jesus said to his disciples at his ascension when they asked if he would then “restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus’ reply was:
“It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-9)
And also consider what was said to Daniel after he received prophecy that made no sense to him. It was written:
“’I heard but could not understand, so I said, “My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:8-10)
And so, and as to John’s query of Jesus – whereas Jesus was not demonstrating the characteristics of a king as those of that day would understand a king to be, John’s simple question asking Jesus if he was “the one” (the one and only messiah) or if should he look for another (an additional person) to fill the role of king-messiah, was a very logical one to ask.
Jesus’ answer to John’s question is rather interesting, too. Jesus kept the focus on both John’s and Jesus’ missions at hand. And that was, of course, the revealing and ministry of the Lamb-messiah. (It needs to be understood that the revealing and ministry of the King-messiah was for a people and time 2000 years into the future from that time. It would be when Jesus as King-messiah would return at the end of the Church Age to collect his Bride.)
So, in keeping the focus on their mission in the year 26 A.D Jesus’ answer to John addressed only the attributes of Jesus’ mission as the Lamb. As Jesus pointed out to John’s messengers:
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” (Matthew 11:4-6)
Yes, John had a unique and narrow mission. And again, that was to precede, proclaim and reveal God’s Lamb – nothing else. And when John’s unique mission was complete, well…John “went to his rest.” The announcement of the arrival of the King-messiah would be for others at a far distant, future time to address. So John’s question of Jesus wasn’t due to some creeping doubt on John’s part about Jesus being the Messiah or not. His question was the result of a 1st century bewilderment regards the personification of the obvious duality of the Messiah. Was he one person or two?!
Today, being that we have the advantage of hindsight and the gift of knowledge via the writers of the New Testament, we now know the Messiah is one person fulfilling two functions, two offices, and at two different times in two different appearances. The first manifestation of the One Messiah – that of the Lamb – has come and gone. (Although his presence via the Holy Spirit still works his ministry of salvation in a powerful way.) And of course, the second appearing of the One Messiah, the return of Christ, is obviously, yet to happen. However, that singular, monumental, game-changing event is just before us!
John and all those that went into the wilderness with him knew “the season” of the Anointed One’s appearance. (And in their case, somewhere late in the year we label 26 A.D.) And that was because they responded to the written Word of God as revealed in Daniel’s writings. And likewise, we, end-of-days-disciples, can and are directed to do the same — to sound the depths of the Scriptures and respond accordingly.
Again, It’s all quite logical. The Scriptures were examined and “somewhat” understood by a relative handful back then at Christ’s first appearing (not everyone, of course, not even most, but some.) And it was Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy in particular (please see Daniel 9:24-27) that they were responding to, the prophecy where Gabriel told Daniel when the Messiah would first appear.
Nonetheless, even though Daniel was accurate as to when the (a) Messiah would appear, the great majority of the few who responded to that prediction desired and expected a Messiah not ordained for their day. The many were seeking Messiah the king – a Messiah not to appear for another 2000 years! And with that, rejected Messiah the Suffering Servant – the (sacrificial) Lamb of God – who appeared, as predicted, on time in 26 A.D.
As Last-Day-Disciples we are blessed to have had the benefit of the New Testament writers who have through the Holy Spirit revealed to us that the Messiah is not two people but one – the one we call Jesus. It has been revealed to us that this Jesus is one Messiah but with two manifestations, two offices, two missions, two purposes. He is both the Lamb of God and the king of all creation.
It is now the time for us as Last-Day-Disciples to do as the few in the 1st century did. We should strive to examine and understand God’s written Word and then respond accordingly to what is revealed there concerning our time. For the 2nd manifestation of the One Messiah is soon to appear. And be assured, his soon appearance is, in fact, revealed in the Scriptures – should one look into the Scriptures and look about our world today. Understand this, it is the mission of the Church today to stand witness to that pending fact. Let us do as Christ has commanded us to do. Let us watch; let us prepare for; and let us proclaim his soon return.
What else can be said regards this matter of return and witness thereof but…
We are waiting, Lord. Come Soon. Yes, indeed, come soon!
Mark Johnson, UMC Lay Servant, 12/19/2022