This theme explores the deep tension that ran through the Jewish people in the time of Jesus between the messianic expectations nourished by the Scriptures and the disconcerting reality of the one who presented himself as the Messiah. Many hoped for a political and military liberator, able to restore the kingdom of Israel and break the yoke of the Roman occupation. Yet Jesus did not fit that portrait.
The articles attached to this theme examine the sources of this misunderstanding: a partial reading of the biblical prophecies, political hopes that colored the interpretation of the texts, and an image of the Messiah built around earthly power rather than service and sacrifice. This disappointment affected the crowds as well as some close disciples, as episodes such as the betrayal of Judas or the dismay of the disciples of Emmaus bear witness.
Understanding this disappointment also means better grasping the uniqueness of the gospel message. Jesus radically redefines the nature of messianic kingship, notably through his teachings, his parables and the central event of his Passion. This gap between human expectation and divine fulfillment lies at the heart of many narratives of the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John.
This journey will particularly interest readers who wish to place the figure of Jesus in his Jewish historical and cultural context, and to understand why his coming aroused as much enthusiasm as resistance among his contemporaries.
This article discusses how Jesus disappointed some of his disciples because they expected the Messiah to be a political liberator rather than a saviour…