Behind | Messianic Claimants in the Time of Jesus

The biblical promise of a deliverer for Israel led many Jewish people to look forward to a leader who would bring about the messianic kingdom. In the century before Jesus’ birth, as Roman oppression of Jewish communities increased, anticipation for the messiah grew. With this anticipation, a number of prominent Jewish leaders emerged and were connected by their followers with messianic prophecy.

Teacher of Righteousness

It may be that the first of these was the “Teacher of Righteousness” whom we know from the Dead Sea Scrolls. The name of the “Teacher” is unknown but he predated Jesus by at least 100 years. He was an important figure for the sect at Qumran and some of his followers considered him the messiah even after his death.

Judas of Galilee and Simon bar Kokhba

Other important messianic figures from Jesus era were Judas of Galilee and Simon bar Kokhba, who encouraged revolt against Roman rule. Both Simon and Judas were killed by the Roman military. 

Theudas

Even less antagonistic unofficial Jewish leaders presented possible threats to civic stability, and were at times treated harshly. Listen to this account from Josephus of the handling of the self-proclaimed “prophet” Theudas in the first century AD, shortly after the time of Jesus: 

It came to pass, while Cuspius Fadus was procurator of Judea, that a certain charlatan, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the Jordan river; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford them an easy passage over it. Many were deluded by his words. However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his wild attempt, but sent a troop of horsemen out against them. After falling upon them unexpectedly, they slew many of them, and took many of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem.

Source: Jewish Antiquities, 20.97-98.