Where is the Peace?

How can Jesus be the Messiah if there is no world peace? This is a common objection among Jewish people regarding the messiahship of Jesus. Various prophecies in the Bible describe a messianic figure who will bring peace to Israel and, by extension, to the whole world. One well-known example of this is found in Isaiah 11.

Isaiah 11:6-9 TLV “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the yearling together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox. A nursing child will play by a cobra’s hole, and a weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Ad-nai, as the waters cover the sea.”

“Jesus may be a great teacher and an inspiring Rabbi but Since He did not bring peace to Israel 2000 years ago how can He be the Messiah?” This view is ultimately short-sighted as it fails to consider many other messianic prophecies that clearly speak of a suffering, priestly messianic figure.

Let us consider the title of “Messiah” as found throughout the Hebrew Bible. The term “Mashiach” (messiah) means “anointed one.” In the Hebrew Bible, three official roles involve this anointing for service: the priest, the king of Israel, and the prophet of Israel. Aaron, the brother of Moses, is considered a messiah because he was anointed to serve as the High Priest. Similarly, King David is viewed as a messianic figure for his role as King of Israel. Both David and Aaron serve as prototypes of a future messianic figure who will not just be “a messiah” but “The Messiah” — the one who will be like Moses, leading Israel to redemption, yet greater than Moses.

Many ancient Jewish sources speak of two exalted messianic figures in relation to messianic prophecy. The first is a Messiah in the order of Aaron, who will serve as a priest and offer atonement for Israel through suffering. The second is a Messiah in the order of David, who would be king of Israel, defeat its enemies, and establish justice with strength. Over time, the rabbis shifted their focus away from a priestly Messiah toward a more kingly and noble Messiah.

Even with this emphasis on a Davidic messianic figure, rabbinical literature is not unified regarding messianic expectations. Some argue for a single Messiah who may come in one of two ways, depending on the Jewish people’s worthiness. If they are worthy, he will arrive triumphantly, riding a white horse. If unworthy, he will come humbly, riding on a donkey. Rabbi Yochanon claimed that the Messiah would come when the Jewish people observe two consecutive Sabbaths. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef suggested that the Messiah would come to defeat the Arabs. Some even propose that the Messiah will arrive riding a flying donkey. However, these theories overlook one important possibility.What if there is one Messiah who comes twice? The first will be as a priestly messiah and the second as a kingly Messiah. The Dead Sea Scrolls from Qumran make this very claim. “At first the Messiah will suffer and be defeated, but in the end, he will rule and triumph in the last days.” The Zohar also teaches the Messiah must first come and suffer to save Israel from judgment. The Rambam teaches the Messiah must be stripped of affliction so that G-D will pardon us for our sins. Finally, Midrash Yalkut teaches “The Messiah, son of Joseph, must be killed” as a reference to Zechariah 12.
2000 years ago, the Holy Temple was destroyed by Rome. Since then, Jewish people have been without a means of atonement. Midrash Yalkut teaches us “there is no atonement but, in the blood,”. Rashi teaches “There is no atonement without blood.” Tractate Yome 5a likewise teaches “Does not atonement come through the blood.” Has G-D left Israel without a means of atoning for her sins?

Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Perhaps G-D has already prepared a way of atonement for Israel. An atonement that starts with a circumcision of the heart, promised by Moses 3500 years ago. “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring.” How can a circumcision of the heart take place without an atonement? If Israel is brought before the nations redeemed and forgiven, how does this happen without a Temple, a priesthood, and sacrifice?

G-D did not leave us without atonement but provided us with a Messiah who came after the order of Aaron, offering Himself as a substitute for us, atoning for our sins. He now serves in the heavenly Temple as our High Priest, interceding for us. When the time of this age is at an end He will come again as a descendant of David to take His rightful place as King of Israel, and sovereign over all the earth.

Two thousand years ago, the Holy Temple was destroyed by Rome, leaving the Jewish people without a means of atonement. Midrash Yalkut teaches, “There is no atonement but in blood.” Rashi emphasizes, “There is no atonement without blood.” Similarly, Tractate Yoma 5a states, “Does not atonement come through the blood?” Has God left Israel without a means to atone for her sins?

Jeremiah 31:31-34 states: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Perhaps God has already prepared a means of atonement for Israel—an atonement that begins with a circumcision of the heart, as promised by Moses 3,500 years ago: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring.” However, how can a circumcision of the heart occur without atonement? If Israel is to be redeemed and forgiven before the nations, how will this happen without a Temple, a priesthood, and sacrifice?

God has not left us without atonement; instead, He has provided us with a Messiah who came in the order of Aaron, offering Himself as a substitute for our sins. He now serves in the heavenly Temple as our High Priest, interceding on our behalf. When the time of this age comes to an end, He will return as a descendant of David to take His rightful place as King of Israel and sovereign over all the earth.