The Messiah
Question
How do we know who the Messiah is?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
In Judaism, "the messiah" is the next Jewish king who will usher in the messianic era. This belief starts in the Torah and continues in the books of the prophets.
Let’s take a look at the teaching of Ezekiel on the Messiah and Messianic era.
My servant David shall be king over
them; there shall be one shepherd for all of them. They shall follow My rules
and faithfully obey My laws. Thus, they shall remain in the land which
I gave to My servant Jacob and in which your fathers dwelt; they and their
children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, with My
servant David as their prince for all time.
I will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them, and I will
establish them and multiply them, and I will place My Sanctuary among them
forever. My Presence shall rest over them; I will be their God, and they shall
be My people. And when My Sanctuary abides among them forever, the nations
shall know that I the LORD sanctify Israel." (Ezekiel
37:24-28).
Jewish law, as stated in the Rambam, Laws
of Kings, Chapter 11, give the following criteria for identifying who is truly
the Messiah
1) He must be Jewish (Deuteronomy 17:15, Numbers 24:17
).
2)
He must be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and a
direct male descendent of King David (I Chronicles 17:11,) and
additionally, his son Solomon (I Chronicles 22:10).
3) He must gather the Jewish people [exiles] to the land
of Israel (Isaiah 11:12)
4) He must rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem (Micah 4:1)
5) He will instruct the Jewish people to faithfully adhere to the
Torah (Isaiah 2:3)
6) He will establish world peace (Isaiah 2:4
7) He will influence the entire world to acknowledge and serve one
God (Isaiah 11:9).
There is no such thing in Judaism of a “second
coming” or a Messiah arising from the dead.