There is one other passage that is significant to quote at this time. It is from the Apocryphal book, 4 Ezra
7:27-30; and it deals with the death of the Messiah, who is identified as the 'Son of God‘. [ A writing that is
considered to be religious, but did not make it into the Scriptural canon.]
"And whosoever is delivered from the predicted evil shall see My wonders. For My son, the Messiah, shall be
revealed, together with those who are with him, and shall gladden the survivors four hundred years. And it
shall be, after those years, that My son, the Messiah, shall die, and all in whom there is human breath. Then
shall the world be turned into the primeval silence seven days, as it was at the first beginnings‖. (Ibid.,
p. 167).
While this quote does not fit the Scriptural pattern of a one thousand year reign of Messiah on the earth, it is
interesting to note how the writer of this book confirms that the Messiah will be known as "My son" to El
Shaddai. It must be remembered that none of the quotes given above are from the Scriptures. The purpose
in quoting them is to point out the popular understanding of the Messiah in the days prior and during the time
of Y‘shua.
The purpose of Yochanan's question
Without a doubt, Yochanan knew that he was announcing and preparing the way for Messiah Ben Joseph.
This fact had been clear to him at least since the day of Y‘shua's baptism. At first he would not think of
Y‘shua as the conquering Messiah, the Lion of Judah; as he knows that Y‘shua is the Lamb and comes to be
slain for the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Yochanan‘s background was probably Qumran/Essene, though it would seem that he broke away to form his
own following. By the time of Y‘shua, the Essenes (as shown in the Dead Sea Scrolls) were developing a
very accurate picture of Messiah as king and priest, united in one person.
The figure of Melchizedek plays an important role in many of the Qumran writings with his name being
substituted for YHWH's in certain scrolls:
11Q13 – ―For this is the time decreed for the year of Melchizedek's favor and by his might he will judge God's
holy ones and so establish a righteous kingdom, as it is written about him in the songs of David, "A godlike
being has taken his place in the council of God; in the midst of the divine beings he holds judgment.
Scripture also says about him, Over [it] take your seat in the highest heaven; A divine being will judge his
people‖.
(See the section, ―The ―tallit‖ penetrates the New Testament‖ under Matt 3:4 to fully understand the
significance of Y‘shua‘s priesthood.)
However, because of the Messianic understandings of the day, Yochanan was undoubtedly looking for a
second Messiah (Messiah Ben David) to appear. Yochanan must have begun to wonder about all of this
when he heard reports coming back to him about the miracles which Y‘shua was performing. ―And when
John had heard in prison about the works of Christ....‖ (Matt 11:2 NKJV)
It was because of these reports that Yochanan sent his disciples to ask: ―...Are you the Coming One, or do
we look for another?" (Matt 11:3 and Luke 7:19)
Messiah Ben David
Just what were these ―works of Christ" about which Yochanan was hearing? They were the large number of
miraculous events which Y‘shua had been performing. These miracles led Yochanan to question, not if
Y‘shua was Messiah Ben Joseph (Yochanan already knew that), but whether He might also be Messiah Ben
David. Note the following examples: Y‘shua healed the servant of the Roman centurion, without even going
to the house where the man lay ill. (Matt 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10).
Peter's mother-in-law was healed. (Matt 8:14-15)
Demons were cast out of people. (Matt 8:16 and 8:28-34)
The paralyzed man was forgiven his sins and thereby healed. (Matt 8:9:1-8)
The sight of a blind man was restored. (Matt 9:27-31)
The speech of a demon possessed dumb man was restored. (Matt 9:32-34)
A widow's son was raised from the dead. (Luke 7:11-16).
These were not acts that were expected to be performed by Messiah Ben Joseph. He was supposed to
come and suffer for the sins of His people. It was Messiah Ben David who was supposed to heal people,