casts out demons and raise the dead – not Messiah Ben Joseph. Certainly, Yochanan knew all of the beliefs
and prophecies about two Messiahs far better than we do today. Slowly, he was beginning to get the picture
that Y‘shua was much more than just the promised Messiah Ben Joseph; he must also be the "Coming One"
as well.
What a marvelous discovery this must have been for Yochanan. However, since he was imprisoned and
could not question his cousin Y‘shua Himself, he had to do the next best thing and send a delegation to
confirm what he already believed to be true. And here is how Y‘shua answered Yochanan's inquiry:
―Jesus answered and said to them, ̳Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ―The blind receive
their sight and the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the
gospel preached to them‘‖. (Matt 11:4-5 NKJV)
All of these activities were expected to be the realm in which Messiah Ben David would operate. So by
receiving this report, Yochanan was able to go to his grave knowing that Y‘shua was not only Messiah Ben
Joseph, but that He was indeed Messiah Ben David as well. What comfort that must have been to Yochanan
when he was forced to face the executioner‘s ax.
Be Not Offended
Yeshua made one final comment to the disciples of Yochanan concerning their question about whom He
professed to be. ―And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me‖. (Matt 11:6 NKJV)
Why would anyone be offended by learning that Y‘shua was both Messiah Ben Joseph and Messiah Ben
David? The answer is complicated, but down deep it has to do with the giving up of long cherished beliefs—
even if those beliefs are somewhat confused. The Gospel accounts tell us that many believed Y‘shua was
the Messiah because He healed the sick and raised the dead, even though these miracles were supposed to
be in the realm of the 'second' Messiah (Ben David). Yet others like Yochanan, who were more astute in their
understanding of the Scriptures and traditions, saw that fact as confusing. They were expecting only a
"Suffering" Messiah called Messiah Ben Joseph to come at that time. It is evident that many could not accept
the idea that both Messiahs could be embodied in one individual.
Later on other misunderstandings grew, because some had accepted the idea that Y‘shua was also Messiah
Ben David. Those people expected Him to bring the Kingdom into effect immediately. When Y‘shua finally
suffered an ignominious human death, it was a crushing blow and faith-buster for many. For example, the
disciple Judas attempted to force Y‘shua into revealing Himself as Messiah Ben David so that He would raise
an army in Israel and call down legions of angels to fight. When this did not happen and Y‘shua went to the
grave instead, Judas found the blow so severe that he committed suicide.
Many of the Jewish people rejected Him as their long awaited and promised Messiah because Y‘shua did not
fulfill all their expectations as the Messiah.
Then, as now, it had to be strictly a matter of faith. As Believers in Y‘shua, we must never forget that fact. For
those who do not have that faith (i.e., trust or confidence that He is both Messiah Ben Joseph and Messiah
Ben David), Y‘shua can become a stumbling stone. Many people have combed the Scriptures diligently in an
effort to prove that Y‘shua is not the Messiah by finding those prophecies about Him that have not yet been
fulfilled. The only answer that can be given to those who make such searches is to agree that they are
correct. But by FAITH we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the prophecies that remain unfulfilled will
be fulfilled when Y‘shua returns to us as King of kings and Lord of lords.