The coming King would do two main things, according to a variety of texts and as we study a variety of actual would-be royal movements within history. First, he would build or restore the Temple. Second, he would fight the decisive battle against the enemy. David’s first act upon being anointed was to fight Goliath; his last was to plan the Temple. Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians and cleansed the Temple. Herod defeated the Parthians and rebuilt the Temple. Bar-Kochba, the last would-be Messiah of the period, aimed to defeat the Romans and rebuild the Temple…
It is unlikely that the followers of a crucified would-be Messiah would regard such a person as the true Messiah. Jesus did not rebuild the Temple; he had not only not defeated the Romans, he had died at their hands in the manner of failed revolutionary leaders.
—The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is (Downer’s Grove, InterVarsity Press, 1999), p.76, quoted in the morning sermon
Happy #PalmSunday to all those observing. pic.twitter.com/BpbU2IgngO
— Dean Meminger (@DeanMeminger) March 28, 2021