Yeshua: Beloved Messiah of the Jewish People

  •         In the Bible as a whole, the terms ‘crowd’, ‘crowding’, or ‘crowds’ are used 152 times with regard to Yeshua; versus 15 times in other contexts.
  •         Many followed Him. “The whole [Jewish] world has gone after Him!” (Jn 12:19)
  •         The devout and righteous ‘Shim’on’ (an Essene?) understood who Yeshua was when He held the infant Messiah in His arms in the Temple. (Luke 2:25-35)
  •         Yochanan stated at Yeshua’s baptism; “Behold the Lamb of God” ~ a clear reference to the Messiah of Isaiah 53, Messiah ben Joseph, who would come as a suffering servant and sacrificial lamb. (Jn 1:29)
  •          Crowds throughout the land of Palestine, well aware of Yeshua’s teaching and great works of power, followed Him, listened eagerly to His teachings and held Him in high esteem. (Matt 4:25;7:34, Mark 12:37)
  •         Many Pharisees and Scribes, Torah teachers and synagogue leaders also followed Him. (Matt 8:19; 9:18; John 12:42, 7:31; 6:15)
  •          Just one week before Yeshua’s trial and crucifixion~ subsequent to the astonishing resurrection of Lazarus ~ on entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey, large crowds lined the streets to welcome Him and spread palm branches before Him; a Near Eastern acknowledgment of kingship (Matt 21:6-9)  or possibly an enactment of the waving of the Sukkot lulav in all directions as an acknowledgement of the omnipresence of God.
  •         They cried “Hosanna (Save us now), Son of David!” (a synonym for ‘Messiah’) and “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai!” (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”) Ancient rabbis taught that this was the appropriate greeting for the Messiah.
  •         After His trial, therefore, crowds of common people followed Yeshua, crying and wailing in grief, as He was led to His execution. (Luke 23:27)
  •         After His crucifixion, crowds returned to their homes ‘beating against their hearts and repented’ (Heb: V’yoshuvo ~ ‘Made t’shuvah’ ~ Returned to God in repentance). (Luke 23:48)
  •         Yeshua’s talmidim (disciples) were grief-stricken; they had believed Yeshua to be the Messiah.
  •          Recognition of Yeshua as Messiah increased after His resurrection and approximately 3,000 souls were added to His followers at Shavuot (Pentecost). (Acts 2:41)
  •         A few weeks later these numbers had swelled to over 5,000; including many priests and Jewish leaders. (Acts 4:4)
  •         In Acts 21:20 we read that tens of thousands of Torah observant Jews in Jerusalem were followers of Yeshua. “Then they [James and the Messianic elders] said to Paul: You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.”
  •         Epiphanius, a fourth century Church Father, noted that Messianic Jews were still active in the broader Jewish community during his lifetime.
  •         Jerome remarked that they were found in synagogues throughout the Eastern Roman Empire in the fifth century.
  •         Archaeological remains at Capernaum indicate that Messianic Jews were still a vital part of that community in the seventh century.
  •         Yeshua was thus held in high esteem by numerous Jews, Galileans and Samaritans for centuries.


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