The longing for a particularly gifted individual who will deliver us from the evils of this world and lead us to a “promised land” or “golden age” is an age-old human need.

The hope for a divine Messiah (anointed one, Christ) has its foundation in the religious history of Judaism, where there are countless different Messiah figures.

The origin of the messianic term comes from Genesis 4:3, where it refers to an anointed priest. The same word is later used for kings and prophets.

Even the king of Persia, Cyrus, is called “Messiah” by the prophet Isaiah because he had a divine mission to fulfil. Isaiah 45:1 reads: “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus.”

A Messiah is therefore an anointed person with a divine mission who, according to the Jewish view, is responsible for earthly rule.