Is the Jewish Messiah just a Man?

One of the general points of disagreement between Christians and Jews is how to identify the Messiah. They both agree that he will be Jewish, but disagree on who he is and his “nature.” Christians believe that only someone with a divine nature could accomplish the mission, and the Jews believe the Messiah is a man only.

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I only wish to address the humanity of the Messiah, so this will be short. Consider the following passages and what they could mean.

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Prediction of the birth of the Messiah

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.

***the ruler is “from everlasting” which cannot describe a normal human. Only God exists from everlasting to everlasting.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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The Branch is the Servant.

Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

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When did this happen- when did iniquity get removed from Israel – in one day?

Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

*** So far, only Jesus, the Son of God, has done this, unless there will be another volunteer.

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Daniel 7:13-14

The Son of Man appears before the Ancient of Days. This occurs after the 4^th beast (anti-Christ) is revealed in the end times, and destroyed in verse 11. To this Son of Man is given the kingdom and the glory.

v 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

v 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an

everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

****However, it says in Isaiah 42:8

I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

There must be something special about the Son of Man, since only God is worthy of glory. He is not an ordinary man, but must have a divine nature, since he is worthy of God’s glory.   Since the messiah, “the branch”, was to rule as God’s servant, and rule on His throne in glory, the “Son of Man” and the messiah are the same person.

Daniel sees the Messiah then, already existing in heaven with the Father God, and he is called the Son of Man. The Messiah is a “man” but has divine qualities, and is seen living in heaven at the time of Daniel.

Zech 6:12-13 …Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

*** Once again, it says in Isaiah 42:8

I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

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Conclusion

The Branch, the Servant of the Lord, is more than a man. He bears the glory of God, and removes iniquity. So far, only one person in history has come to accomplish this. His name is Jesus, Yeshua.

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Note

This study is only to answer this one question. So why isn’t there peace, with the lion laying down with the lamb?

Messiah was to make 2 trips here, not one, and it was predicted in the book of Daniel. If one carefully reads the text, one can see this. So what was not done the first time, will be accomplished the second time, just as prophesied.

See also:

Jesus-before and after earth Click here for more

Jesus and His relationship with Father God Click here for more

Did Jesus fulfill the Jewish Scriptures for Messiah? Click here for more

Jesus as the Son of God Click here for more