INTRO: We examine the concept of Messiah in Jewish theology, and why ancient Jews rejected Jesus Christ but then chose Simon Bar Kokhba, helping Israel towards national suicide and loss of nationhood. In fact, ancient Israelites were not interested in the leadership style of Jesus, because of his refusal to embrace a political or military rejection of Rome, focusing on spiritual truths. But Simon arrived as a firebrand and was lauded as the antidote to Roman rule and liberation of Yahweh’s people.
What is Messiah? Writes the Ancient Hebrew Research Center,
The
Hebrew word meshiyach is transliterated as Messiah. In
the Tanakh (Old Testament) this word is translated in English
as “Anointed One.” The root word of meshiyach is the
verb mashach meaning “to anoint”. In ancient Hebrew
culture it is customary to pour oil on the head of one who is being given
a position of authority. This practice is called “anointing”. In the
Greek Septuagint this Hebrew word is translated with the Greek
word “christos” and is transliterated as “Christ”.
Jesus’ Ministry: Scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C.,
passing 33 years later. Opening His ministry, the Jews of the day considered
him a pest and a rebel, challenging their authority. Some claim Jesus fulfilled 351 messianic prophecies and
was the only pre-announced man in history. Yet, to
explain why a man dedicated to feeding vast crowds and healing the sick and
lame was rejected is summed up:
Old
Testament passages on Christ’s divinity were misinterpreted since there was no
clear and precise picture of who Messiah was. Jesus’ own disciples struggled to
understand his mission and divine origin. Confusion on 3 aspects of Messiah
created this lack of clarity: on how the word messiah applied
to Jesus, on the mission of the Messiah, and, most important, over the
Messiah’s parentage.
Rejection: But
there is no doubt what ultimately got Christ murdered was brave opposition to
the existing corrupt Jewish power structure combining elements of religion,
power and money. So with the diabolical interplay of local authorities, and 6 trials – Jewish leaders manipulated
Romans to publicly execute Jesus.
Simon Bar Kokhba :Simon
Bar Kokhba (died 135 AD) was impressive but cocky. Charismatic, tall, strong,
charming, fearless, cunning, literate, cruel and vulgar. Lineage from the House
of David implied he theoretically could be the Messiah, a claim he did not
reject. A warrior rebel leader intent on supplanting Jewish overlords, and
during his 4-year war, with 400,000 soldiers, he nearly defeated mighty Rome.
See The Bar Kokhba War AD 132–136.
King Messiah: “There
was a strong and popular belief Bar
Kokhba was the promised messiah.” The discovery of Bar Kokhba coins suggest
widespread support, as “he minted coins with the slogan “leḥerut
Yerushalayim: For the freedom of Jerusalem.” Some stated, “This is the King Messiah.” But despite being
an observant Jew, his arrogance was such, legend states he merely said about
God’s assistance: “We pray Thee, do not give assistance to the enemy; but we
don’t need any help!”
Bar Kokhba Revolt:
The revolt of 132-135 A. D. began with promise, after years Rome finally
exacted a blood vengeance by General Severus. Writes
Casius Dio,
50
of their most important outposts and 985 of their most famous villages were
razed to the ground. 580,000 men were slain in the various raids and battles,
and the number of those that perished by famine, disease, and fire was past
finding out…nearly the whole of Judea was made desolate. (Dio, 69:14.1-2)
Of an ugly finale, Jerome
wrote:
Jerusalem
was completely destroyed and the Jewish nation was massacred in large groups at
a time, with the result that they were even expelled from the borders of Judaea.
That being the time when Barcochebas, leader of the Jews, was crushed and
Jerusalem was demolished to the very ground. (Jerome, Commentary on Daniel,
Chapter 9)
Simon Bar Kokhbar’s
leadership is perhaps the greatest single disaster in Jewish history. Jews were
not allowed their diets or law and not allowed to live within sight of
Jerusalem, which was probably a moot point. Their beliefs were then enveloped
in Kabbalah and expressed in the Talmud. But this was all driven by Simon’s
false-messiah claims which died
with him in battle:
...the
majority of the Jewish population had either been killed, died of disease or
starvation, or been sold into slavery. While small Jewish communities continued
to exist, such as in the Galilee, the demography of Judea had shifted in favor
of the non-Jewish population, as it would remain for almost 2,000 years until
the advent of Zionist immigration. As a result, the remaining centers of Jewish
cultural and religious life were all outside the land of Israel, especially
in Babylonia,
where the definitive codex of Jewish law – the Babylonian Talmud – was
collected and redacted. In effect, the Jews were now a stateless people and
would remain so until 1948 CE.
CONCLUSION:
It’s amazing but predictable the real Messiah, a man filled with virtue and
good works – Jesus Christ, was crucified by the Romans at behest of the Jewish
leaders, his bitter rivals. Their lack of true biblical knowledge and
impatience doomed their nation. But the boastful poser, Simon Bar Kokhbar, and
his fighting reputation was too much for the Jewish population to resist. And
so, as he revolted, building an army of almost half a million, his interest in
resisting Rome made him a messiah akin to King David himself. For 3 years,
until his empire was slaughtered and destroyed. But as the holiday of Christmas
reveals, history has judged Christ the true King of the Jews, and His Kingdom
has no end, even during an age of pure humanism, faithlessness and utter
nonsense.
Kelly OConnell -- Bio and Archives
Kelly O’Connell is an
author and attorney. He was born on the West Coast, raised in Las Vegas, and
matriculated from the University of Oregon. After laboring for the Reformed
Church in Galway, Ireland, he returned to America and attended law school in Virginia,
where he earned a JD and a Master’s degree in Government. He spent a stint
working as a researcher and writer of academic articles at a Miami law school,
focusing on ancient law and society. He has also been employed as a university
Speech & Debate professor. He then returned West and worked as an assistant
district attorney. Kelly is now is a private practitioner with a small law
practice in New Mexico.
