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The Jews were expecting a political Messiah who had been promised to them by their prophets. He was to rescue the nation from their enemies, restore the throne of King David and establish a righteous Kingdom of God on earth. Israel was then to become a leader in the nations of the world.
The prophets said that Elijah would precede the coming of the Messiah and he would be rejected. Jesus thought that John the Baptist was Elijah returned to earth. The disciples of Jesus asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come" and Jesus said to them "But I tell you Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." Mark 9:11-12- John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. Here we see the peoples' belief that the ancient prophets could return to live again on earth. Concerning the throne of the long dead King David, the prophets had said "I (God) will establish his line forever, and as long as the heavens endure." Psm.89:29. "For you will spread out to the right and to the left and your descendants will possess the nations and settle the desolate towns." Isah. 54:13.
By the time of Jesus we find that the peoples' expectation had not changed. Luke tells us, "And the Lord God will give to him (Jesus) the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1:32-33. Zechariah's prophecy as recorded in Luke gives the peoples' expectation of the Messiah, He said, "We (the Jewish Nation) would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ....-- rescued from the hands of our enemies." Luke 1:71. Luke gives a clear statement of the expectation and the function of the Messiah at the time of Jesus, (a) He was to be given the throne of his ancestor David, (b) Reign over the house of Jacob for ever. (c) Of his kingdom there would be no end. This is a political Messiah related only to the governing of the nation of Israel. Jesus expected no more. This is what he called the Kingdom of God. In no way can it be read as a world-wide spiritual kingdom.
There are many verses in the Old Testament which had always been understood to be prophecies telling of the coming of the Messiah. There seemed to be an effort on the part of the Christian writers to make the story of Jesus fulfill all prophecy as though prophecies are infallible. Did they believe what the prophets foretold was a future fact which could not be altered? Were the Christians so anxious to establish Jesus as a spiritual Messiah that they would add or subtract from the recorded words?
The Hebrew prophets turned their desire into a divine promise of a Messiah. Time has proved that those prophecies were no more than wishful thinking. Jesus also sincerely believed the prophets and became convinced that he was the promised one who would, with the help of his God, establish the Kingdom of God in Israel. It is always unwise to take prophecies too seriously.
When it comes to the reality of being the Messiah, Jesus did not claim that position until half way through Mark's Gospel (chapter 8). It would seem that since his baptism, he had been wondering and possibly hoping that he was the promised Messiah. The people followed him, hung on to his words. He had leadership, charisma and personal power, he believed that his almighty God was able to perform miracles. The people were telling him that he was someone special, sent from God. He could have thought, maybe, I am the anointed one. But he never felt sure enough to declare the thought until he had first asked his disciples for their opinion. He asked. "Who do men say that I am," and they answered him, "John the Baptist, and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the Prophets" and he asked them, ''But who Ao you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ" and he charged them to tell no one about him." Mark 8:27-30. (the word Christ, is Greek for Messiah) Why would he not want the people to know? Did he want further proof or personal assurance?
The belief that he was the Messiah seemed to grow and grow until he comes to stand before the high priest at his trial. He was asked, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said "I am and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:61-62- Jesus never explains what he meant by those words. Did he expect the Kingdom of God to be ushered in immediately in view of the high priest? Or did he just mean that it would happen during the high priest's lifetime? And what did he mean by the 'right hand of power coming with the clouds of heaven?' Jesus was never to wear King David's crown.
Jesus was still waiting, trusting and expecting God to fulfill the promises of the prophets. One wonders, what were the thoughts of Jesus during the next few hours as the sentence of death drew near, was he waiting for a miracle by God? The last words recorded that Jesus spoke on the cross were, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" A cry of utter disappointment and sadness. If Jesus was divine, he would not have said those words. He would have known what was happening- This does not suggest a willing sacrifice for the sins of the people. Did he realise too late, that he was not to be the Messiah of his people. He would not be the one to fulfil the expectations of the prophets and Jewish people.
The nation of Israel was under the heel of the Roman Empire and feeling very unhappy about it. Their prophets had promised a national saviour, a Messiah to restore their national dignity and promote their God. Now was the time of their greatest need. Where was the Messiah, the anointed one whom the prophets had promised?