Just a few speculative thoughts of my own:
As to the necessity of there even being a need for a messiah ben joseph, that seems to depend on us. His task is to prepare Israel for the coming of the big “M”. If Israel repents, we are to be immediatley redeemed , in which case there will be no need, it is said, for a messiah ben Joseph. Moshiach ben David will come directly and redeem us and we can avoid the trials and tribulations.
As Christ said He would not have needed to go to the vinyard if those who worked for Him there had come to repentance.
28 But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work today in my vineyard. 29 And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went. 30 And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering, said: I go, Sir; and he went not.
31 Which of the two did the father’s will? They say to him: The first. Jesus saith to them: Amen I say to you, that the publicans and the harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him. 33 Hear ye another parable. There was a man an householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen; and went into a strange country. 34 And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof. 35 And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants more than the former; and they did to them in like manner. 37 And last of all he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence my son. 38 But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance. 39 And taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen?
Just some posts on this subject I had made some time ago:
There are references in Jewiish scripture to a minor messiah descended from the line of Joseph (son of Jacob), who is to die (not sure if it makes reference to resurrection but I seem to recall something about this). But it is clear that this person is not “The” Messiah that we are waiting for and that his death may or may not be necessary as a prerequiste to “The” Messiah.
Can I draw a parallel to John the Baptist and Jesus Christ; And when John was fulfilling his course, he said: I am not he, whom you think me to be: but behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
My understanding is that Messiah Ben Joseph is NOT required to come before Messiah Ben David. He’s merely a minor “possibility.”
A possibility which occured - a voice that cried out in the wilderness, prepare a way for the Lord.
One of the principle characteristics of the Messiah ben Joseph, in preparing the way for “The Messiah” is to wage war against the forces of evil. Jesus was no warrior. And no political or military leader. Jesus certainly didn’t wage war against the enemies of Israel.
John challenged the status quo in the vinyard, casting the first weapon in the war waged against evil by calling everyone to be baptised and repent; 1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. 2 And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.
Yes, its true that the Messiah ben Joseph will be killed. But killed in war, not on a cross.
John the Baptist was killed in the war against the forces of evil when he was beheaded.
Moreover, I am reading that the Messiah ben David is to follow “shortly” after the death of Messiah ben Joseph.
John says; 11 I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. 17 And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
cont…
