Pearls of the Word

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Are we to wait the other?

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait the other? " (Matthew 11:3 Aramaic Gospel).

In Jewish thought, 'He who comes' means 'the Messiah'. And the Jewish Tradition teaches that there are two Messiahs: the Messiah, the son of Joseph, suffering, who bears the sins of Israel, and the glorious Messiah, son of David, who re-establishes kingship over Israel (and chases the Roman occupier).

As he often does, Jesus responds by referring to the Scripture that is fulfilled: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... He has messied (anointed) me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1). The miracles that were being accomplished were obvious signs of Jesus' messianity. This is why he answered this question by saying, "Go and tell John what you hear and see" (Matthew 11:4). Happy are those who have received the revelation of the Messiah (Matthew 11:6)!