The Messiah
Question
I know that the Jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah, what are the characteristics of the Messiah? Why do Jewish refuse Jesus Christ as the Messiah?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
The word Mashiach is the Hebrew word for “Messiah” which, in English, means “savior” or “supreme prophet” and well as “anointed.” Throughout scripture, we find that supreme leaders were also known as “Mashiach,” such as the High Priest. Nowadays, as you note, the word Mashiach refers to the individual who will redeem the world at the end of days and bring all mankind to God. He will be from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of King David. He will be a great sage who works to spread G-dliness in the world.
The concept of an “end of days” is found in the Torah in the book of Numbers, chapter 24:14.This verse is referring to the Messianic era at the end of days.
Other sources for the concept and coming of Mashiach in the Torah and in scripture include Deuteronomy 30:1 where Moshe tells us that one day all the Jews who have been scattered around the earth will be brought back to the Land of Israel. The evil non-Jewish prophet Bilaam also seems to corroborate this idea with his prophesy in Numbers 24:17-20. Our forefather Yakov also makes reference to Mashiach in Genesis 49:10 calling him “Shilo.”
The prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Joel and Hosea all full of references to the Messianic era discussing an era of peace, healing, ingathering, construction of the Temple, resurrection of the dead, and a worldwide acceptance of God as King of the world. It will be an era of peace and blessing for the entire world, not merely the Jewish people. Even non-Jews will be welcome in the Temple in Jerusalem.
It should be noted that the belief in the coming of Mashiach is one of the thirteen most fundamental principles of Judaism.
The Jewish people reject Jesus primarily because he did not fulfill the requirements and duties that the Messiah is meant to fulfil. He was killed. Judaism does not accept the idea of a "Second Coming" for a Messiah who did not accomplish the things he was meant to accomplish in his lifetime.