JESUS, the WARRIOR MESSIAH
What an awful title! Believers know Jesus to be ultra-loving, super kind, and terrifically forgiving of the most horrendous action against Him, including crucifixion's painful, humiliating death. He never lifted a finger against anyone. Jesus never physically fought anyone-which was the usual way of resolving problems in the first century! However, Jesus did have words of correction against those he felt were violating our Father's intention of giving humanity the best possible life within the unkindness of this thing we call 'civilization'. But a 'warrior'? Never!
Well, let us examine how the term is defined. Warriors are legionary hero-combatants who are brave in protecting others. Second, warriors are unique and elite, for they possess a solid moral code wherein innocents are protected, and wrongdoers receive punishment. Third, warriors are passionate believers who put their mission first. Finally, warriors believe in a cause bigger than themselves, wherein they lead by example.
You just read about Jesus, with whom I am familiar. And if you question the combatant term, remember Jesus' action-twice-in the Jerusalem Temple's gentile courtyard. With a whip and fury, His action and words define a combatant against wrongdoers. And you have to love how Jesus accomplished this mission: Punishment via shame.
For this writing, I call our peaceful, loving savior a 'warrior messiah' because He arrived in Palestine when the culture was in captivity with corrupt, immortal rulers. I refer here to both the Roman and Jewish leaders. Rome's corruption was legionary worldwide in its leadership and decaying culture. Palestine's corruption existed in the realms of religious and civil administration. First-century Palestine's saving grace can be found in its non-leadership people, the ꞌam haꞌaretz, who cried out for their melekh mashiach (king messiah), the one who would restore the Mosaic Faith in their Land.
Surprise! You know the saying, "Be careful what you wish for!"?
Jesus gave the people not what they wanted or thought they needed but what He knew would be their salvation. Unfortunately for Jesus, people get really angry when you fail to give them what they expect. A segment of the people wanted Jesus to reform the Jerusalem Temple's hierarchy. A segment of the people wanted Jesus to lessen taxes, improve civil laws, and return generational lands to their rightful owners. Jesus would accomplish their goals by becoming their King. A segment of the people wanted Jesus to don a sword, call down the army of angels He talked about, and rid their Homeland of soldiers and infidels.
Jesus did not do any of these things. What Jesus did do is found within the pages of this book. Instead, Jesus' relationship with Judas Iscariot sets the stage for experiencing the traumatic events of the 20s and 30s CE era.
As Ancient Judaism was in its death throes and Christianity's seeds were sowed, Jesus engaged the ꞌam haꞌaretz in the theological revolution that would ultimately change the world.
