The Suffering Messiah
The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered around 1947 in caves near the Dead Sea, contain early manuscripts of parts of every book of the Old Testament, except Esther. They also contain manuscripts of some other ancient writings.
In some of the scrolls, mention is made of a Messiah-like leader who was killed. They use words like piercings, wounds and put to death. Also of that leader they say the branch of David and Root of Jesse. The language is like Isaiah where it says that for our sins "He was wounded.”
At the time when Jesus came most Jews expected a Messiah who would restore Israel to political dominance. However, the text of the Dead Sea Scrolls shows that the writers had the idea of a Messiah who would suffer and die. They also had the prophecy of Caiaphas the High Priest who said, "It is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." John 11:5050Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. (John 11:50).
Even after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the apostles in Acts ask Him, "Wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" The Lord answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:6-86When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:6‑8).
In Luke 24, the Lord says to the two walking toward Emmaus, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ [Messiah] to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" Luke 24:25, 2625Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (Luke 24:25‑26). Then in verses 44 to 48 He says, "These are the words that I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ [Messiah] to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.”
If a Christian, a saved Jew or Gentile, would ask today the same question the apostles asked the Lord in Acts 1, "Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel," what would the answer be? We suggest this: the answer is still nearly the same. The exact time "the Father hath put in His own power." One thing we do know is that now we are almost 2000 years nearer to the Lord's coming for His redeemed heavenly company, and then after that He begins His dealings with those on the earth. He will, and He alone can restore the kingdom to Israel.
The Apostle Peter writes of the prophets, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." 1 Peter 1:1111Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:11).
Men cannot be exactly sure when the Dead Sea Scrolls were written, yet it is interesting to see that they testify (and perhaps beforehand) of a suffering Messiah. Ed.