Not many people know that there is talmudic evidence for the Messiah at 30 AD. Jewish writings from both the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud contain compelling evidence that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Both of these passages refer to the destruction of the temple, which occurred in 70 CE. Here is a quote from the Babylonian Talmud:
“Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot [‘For the Lord’] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves” (Soncino version, Yoma 39b).
The temple was destroyed in 70 AD, so this refers to 30 AD
Forty years before the destruction of the Temple would put this event at 30 CE, which is roughly the time that the historical Jesus was crucified.This date alone should be enough to arouse the curiosity of both Jewish and non-Jewish people, since Jesus was rejected as Messiah. The passage refers to four things that occurred and were worthy of note enough to write down: The western light going out, the crimson thread remaining crimson, the lot for the Lord coming up on the left hand, and the gates of the temple opening on their own. These events serve as evidence, embedded as they are in the teachings of the Jewish people, that Jesus was the Messiah.
The Lot did not come up on the Right Hand
On Yom Kippur, two goats were sacrificed. One was chosen “for the Lord” and sacrificed in the temple. The other was chosen as the “scapegoat” and was sent off into the wilderness in order to signify God forgiving the sins of the people. The “Lot of the Lord” refers to a practice in which the priest would take up two stones (one white, one black) in order to determine which of the two goats would be sacrificed, and which would become the “scapegoat”. According to chance, sometimes the priest would end up with a black stone in his left hand (meaning the goat on the left would be the scapegoat), and sometimes in the right (meaning the goat on the right would be the scapegoat). But the Talmud states that from 30 CE to the temple’s destruction 40 years later, the black stone always came up in the priest’s left hand, meaning the goat on the left was always the scapegoat. The odds of this happening by chance are astronomical.
Nor did the Crimson Colored Strap become White
A red cloth, signifying the sin itself, was tied to the horns of the scapegoat, and the goat was led away by an appointed man. According to tradition, the man would take the goat to a cliff and push it off, so that the goat would not perchance wander back to the temple area and bring the sins associated with it back upon the people. Now, a portion of this red cloth was removed and tied to the temple door, and normally, the portion of cloth (or the “thread”) turned white, demonstrating that the sacrifice had been accepted, and the sins of the people had been atoned for. But from 30 CE until the destruction of the temple, the “Crimson thread remained crimson”. This demonstrates that God rejected the sacrifice, since He had already provided a sacrifice, through the crucifixion of His Son.
Nor did the Western Light Shine
The western light is the most important lamp in the temple menorah – used to light the other lamps. This lamp is considered the “servant lamp”, for this reason – just as Jesus/Yeshua came as a servant to give light to mankind. The fact that this light refused to remain lit demonstrates that the presence of God had removed itself from the temple because of the rejection of His Son.
The Doors of the Temple would open by themselves
That the doors of the temple would open by themselves is certainly noteworthy. But what could this signify? Perhaps that the Lord’s presence had left the temple, and concurrently, that it was no longer only high priests who can enter God’s presence, but all could enter into the presence of the Lord. That the doors would open by themselves is further substantiated by this following reference from the Jerusalem Talmud (in which the destruction of the temple is foreseen):
“Said Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai to the Temple, ‘O Temple, why do you frighten us? We know that you will end up destroyed. For it has been said, ‘Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars’ ” (Zechariah 11:1)’ (Sota 6:3).
Significance
Something of huge significance must have happened at 30 AD. If these writings were found in early Christian writings, it would not be so unusual, for we would expect Christian writings to support Jesus/Yeshua as the Messiah. But these quotes are from Jewish sources, and Judaism sternly rejects Jesus/Yeshua from being Messiah. Yet these writings (and many others) point directly at Him. To find such evidence in the holy writings of the leaders of Judaism is then powerful proof indeed that Jesus/Yeshua was indeed the true Messiah.
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