THE RABBIS’ BEST-KEPT SECRET

WHAT is the best-kept secret of rabbinic Judaism?

Is it the kabbalah? No, that’s not it.
Is it the explicit letters of the Ineffable Name? No, not that.
Is it the resting place of the holy ark? No, that’s not it either.
Or the golem that walks by night? No, not at all.

The best-kept secret of rabbinic Judaism is Messiah ben Joseph, the dying Messiah of the rabbis. A true understanding of him has profound implications for anyone who reads the Bible.

Jews have always believed in at least three Messiahs, and sometimes four. There will be a King Messiah from the tribe of David who will come to rule. There will be a Priest Messiah who will come to make atonement. There may be a prophet Messiah. And, last but not least, there is the Messiah from the tribe of Joseph, Messiah ben Joseph, who will come from Galilee to suffer and die for the sins of the world.

If that sounds a bit like someone you know, then you’re not too far wrong. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how much Messiah ben Joseph resembles the more famous dying Messiah. You’ll also be amazed at how this figure has been kept secret for so long. For there is no doubt that the rabbinic community always preferred to keep Messiah ben Joseph on a strictly need-to-know basis. He was strictly off-limits for those not outside the rabbinic circle.

For more on the best-kept secret of rabbinic Judaism, see Messiah ben Joseph and Chapter 2 of Jesus: The Incarnation of the Word.