The Myth of the Messiah

A sermon delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Blacksburg, VA), December 14, 2008, by the Reverend Christine Brownlie.

Myths are powerful. Our lives and the culture that we live in are built around myths. We ignore them and mock them at our own peril. These myths are shared at such a deep level that we fail to recognize them until some crisis forces us into a period of awareness and reflection.

As we move from the administration of George Bush to the new administration of Barack Obama, I’ve been thinking about the myth of the hero. I lived in Texas during the years when President Bush was governor, so I have observed his political career starting long before he ran for President. It seems to me that Mr. Bush went through a time of self-understanding that linked him — in his own mind — to the ancient myth of the Messiah. While he was still governor of Texas, he confided this sense of receiving a divine call to a good friend, saying, ''I believe God wants me to run for president.'' He expressed very similar thoughts early in his administration, especially after the terrible events of Sept11^th in 2001.

As we prepare for a new administration under Barak Obama, I’ve noticed that many people see the President Elect in the same light. There are some who believe that he is anointed by God to heal the ills that trouble our nation and heal the political divisions that have grown ever wider in the past decade. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, a powerful political and religious figure, says that when Obama talks "the Messiah is absolutely speaking."

And lest you think that this is a bizarre fantasy of some folks who take their religion way too literally, I would remind you that we Unitarian Universalists also express a sense of a Messianic call in one of our most loved hymns, “We’ll Build a Land.” In the chorus of this song we sing, “Come build a land where the sisters and brothers, anointed by God may then create peace.” The lyrics were written by Barbara Zanotti, a Catholic author, feminist, and lesbian who is a bit of a thorn in the side of the Catholic establishment. My point is that the idea of a powerful saving figure chosen by God or some other divine power is widely held even in our very modern and skeptical age.

But this myth of a Messiah is very old and seems to be common to nearly all the world’s religions. Even that very controversial prophet known to the grocery store tabloids as “Nostradamus” has predicted the coming of such a figure. This powerful person is always male and he always rids the world of evil. After a time of war and chaos, nations are unified and peace prevails.

The myth of the Messiah is central to the story of Christmas. The great divide that split the early Christians from their Jewish roots was the controversy about Jesus and the Christian claim that he was the long-awaited Messiah who is spoken of in many of the writings in the Jewish sacred books. The Jews of the day were astonished and horrified by this claim. Those who accepted Jesus as the Messiah were put out of the synagogues, a great blow. The debate was on, and it continues to this day.

Because our Unitarian and Universalists roots go deep into the fertile soil of both the Jewish and the Christian faiths, I want to take you through a little bit of theology and church history, and then move into a modern interpretation of what this myth of the Messiah might say to us today.

If you’ve ever attended a Service of Lessons and Carols, you may have wondered why it starts with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and then moves on to a prophesy by someone called Isaiah before you hear the story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. That’s because the early Christians used the Jewish Scriptures to build their case for their claim that the Messiah had come at last in the person of Jesus.

The Jewish concept of the Messiah was developed over a long period of time. The Hebrew word that we translate as Messiah means “anointed.” In Greek, the term for one who is anointed was “christos,” which is the root for the term “Christ.” (If your child asks you if “Christ” is Jesus’ last name, you can explain that this is a title that means “anointed” or chosen by God.) In the history of the Israelites, there were many figures who were “anointed” to lead the people: Moses, the judges, the prophets, and even the priests were thought to have been chosen by God for a special role.

In its earliest usage, the term Messiah was first used in a reference to the lineage of kings who followed David who was believed to have been chosen by God to rule over the nation. However, within a few decades the linage of David had become so corrupted with a lust for power and wealth that the concept of a righteous messiah took on a new meaning. The hope evolved that God would intervene and raise up a successor to these evil rulers who would be worthy of David’s lineage. The well-known text from Isaiah (chapter 7 verse 14) that foretells of a male child born of a “young woman” (not a virgin) speaks to this hope. Scholars tell us that the prophet may be speaking of the birth of a child whose father was the very wicked king, Ahaz, and and the mother a well-known young woman of the court. In other words, Isaiah was talking about something that would happen in the present time, and not of a birth that would take place in a little town in the distant future on a midwinter night. But those who wanted to prove that Jesus was the Messiah pulled this passage from the Jewish Scriptures and re-interpreted it to apply to Jesus.

Eventually the lineage of David collapsed, and the expectation of an ideal king who would re-establish that line of rulers also dissolved. Over time it was and replaced by an image of a super-hero warrior king who would arise through God’s direct intervention at some future date. The Messiah would be known by his character and his accomplishments.

This anointed one would be a great political leader descended from King David, well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments. He would be a charismatic leader, with the ability to inspire others to follow his example. He would be a great military leader who would win battles for Israel, as well as a great judge who would hand down righteous decisions. But above all, according to the Jewish teachings, he would be a human being, not a god, a demi-god, or some other kind of supernatural being.

His accomplishments would be mighty. Under the reign of The Messiah, the nation of Israel would be restored and all Jews would return to their homeland. This return would bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people, and Israel would be the center of all world government — both for Jews and gentiles. The Messiah would rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and many of the ancient forms of worship would be re-established with one exception: Because the world would be free of sin, there would be no need for “sin offerings.” This king would restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land. Finally, a golden era of peace and righteousness would come to all the earth.

In Jewish history, there have been a number of men who have claimed the title of Messiah. Three appeared during the time following the death of Herod, when the people revolted and tried to free themselves from the harsh rule that had been imposed on them. Among the most prominent were Rabbi Akiva and Shabbetai Zevi.

In the years 132–135 C.E., Bar Kochba led a revolt against Rome. During this revolt, Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed him to be "King Messiah." Unfortunately, Bar Kochba, Rabbi Akiva and thousands of Jews were killed in 135 C.E., when the Romans stormed the stronghold of Betar. This was a devastating blow for the people of Israel who were convinced that their deliverer had appeared. But it was not the last.

In the 1600s, another self-proclaimed Messiah won the hope and the trust of the Jewish people. His name was Shabbetai Zevi. But when the Sultan of Turkey arrested him in 1666, he converted to Islam to save own life. This was a stunning betrayal for those who believed in him. Despite these disappointments, many Jews hold fast to the promise of a Messiah — even today. For some it is a fundamental belief of the Jewish faith.

The Jews of Jesus’ day placed great hope in the promise of a Messiah. They were weary of the harshness of Roman rule. There were many who proclaimed that the end time or the “Day of Days” was at hand. Certain religious sects took great pains to follow the Jewish law in every detail, in hopes of bringing about the end of time. Jesus taught his followers that the “Kingdom of God” was at hand, breaking into the world even though they couldn’t see it. He spoke of God in intimate language that seemed to claim a special relationship. He was a healer, a teacher of wisdom, and a charismatic figure to many.

If you read the Christians Scriptures, you will find that in each one of the Gospels, there are claims that Jesus is this long awaited Messiah. Yet we know that he did not fulfill any of the expectations of what the Messiah would accomplish. Some Christians make the claim that these expectations were simply wrong. The Jews were looking for a warrior king, but God had a different purpose for this unique and powerful individual.

I said earlier in this sermon that Christians usd the Jewish scriptures as proof that Jesus was the Messiah and that the Messiah was to be from the lineage of David. You may have heard the quote from the Prophet Micah:

“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.”

Both Matthew and Luke use family genealogies to show that Jesus was a descendent of David. They use Joseph’s linage, which has always puzzled me since he is not Jesus’ biological father. Both have him born in the Bethlehem, “The City of David.” Both point to the miraculous virgin birth foretold in Isaiah despite the widely known fact that this term is a mistranslation. When asked about the expectations that the Messiah will gather all the Jews into Israel or rebuild the temple, some of these believers will simply say that all of these prophesies, and more, will be fulfilled after the second coming of Jesus the Christ, the anointed one who will rule over all of creation. It seems that just like the Jews who hold on to the hope for the appearance of an anointed king, many Christians too are still waiting for the second coming of the Messiah.

I would offer another thought on this ancient beliefs. There is another story that is supposedly from the Chassidic tradition. An abbot is concerned for the fate of his monastery, which has now come to house only four monks and himself. Desperate and worried, he seeks the advice of a great rabbi who comes to the monastery now and then for a retreat. He stays in a small house on the grounds of the monastery and he is such a holy man that the monks can sense his presence. “He is here,” they would whisper to one another.

One evening when the rabbi was visiting the monastery, the abbot went to see him. He hoped that this wise and holy man would be able to give him some advice that would revitalize the order. The two men read the Torah, talked and even wept together. “It seems that the people are turning away from their faith and giving up the life of the spirit,” sighed the Rabbi. “I have no advice to give you. Only this. The Messiah is among you.”

The abbot bid his friend a good night and walked back to the abbey. He was startled by the Rabbi’s claim and wondered what it meant. When he reached the abbey, the brothers were waiting for him. “What did the Rabbi say?” they asked. The abbot’s reply startled them. “He said that the Messiah is among us!”

The monks were dumbstruck and went off to their cells to contemplate what these strange words could mean. Could the abbot be the Messiah? Brother Philip? Brother Andrew? Could it be me?

None of them spoke of this again, but they all began to treat one another with more respect, and to act with greater humility. They were more diligent in the work, and in their prayers. The few visitors who came now and then to the grounds of the monastery noticed a change, though they had no idea what might have caused this. But they spoke of it to their neighbors and friends. More people began to visit the monastery and attend mass. Some of the young men spoke with the abbot, then one asked to join the order and then another. Within a few years the monastery was flourishing again and the people of the area found hope and a renewed faith through the example of the monks who lived there.

Are you the Messiah? Am I? Perhaps there is no one person who can claim to be the Messiah, the savior of the people. Perhaps there is something of the Messiah in each one us that needs to awaken, to hear the call to work for justice and peace, It may be that, in the words of an old song, we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

The myth and mystery of the Messiah calls to the hope that we human beings can create a world of growing justice, compassion and hope. There is much to be done! Let us heed that call and give our best gifts to our hurting needful world.

May it be so.