WHO IS THE MESSIAH, HAS HE COME?
By Babatunde Jose
Everywhere in the world people were expecting the latter coming of one or another kickshaw messiah who would remove the discomforts which they themselves were either too lazy or too incompetent to deal with; and nobody had anything whatever to gain with electing for peculiarity among one’s fellow creatures and a gloomier outlook*. _James Branch Cabell (1926)
The question of who a true messiah is has always been mired in controversy and often has been the source of conflict among believers. Most religious conflicts have often been fueled by it. It is equally true in most political systems where the people have experienced oppression, and they look forward to a redeemer or a Mahdi.
The Messiah is the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible or a leader regarded as the saviour of a particular country, group, or cause. Passions can run strong on this topic; the Messiah is seen from different perspectives just as Jesus was perceived differently by the Jews.
It is a little-known fact that there have been more than fifty prominent Jewish Messiahs. These characters, though unrenowned today, inspired messianic fervour that at times seized the whole Jewish, Christian, Muslim and even secular worlds.
Since the men with the gun truncated our democracy and plunged this country into political turmoil, we have always looked forward to the coming of a Messiah, a Mahdi, or a Redeemer.
In 1993 we thought he had arrived, but it was not to be: 1999 came and he did not arrive; 2015, only charlatans and false prophets were our lot. Come 2019 we were left with a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. Now in 2023 we are confronted with this apocalyptic maxim once again. Has he come?
Promises of a “messiah” have been put forth by a great many religions, both maverick and Custodial. Messiah has had several meanings, from simply “teacher” to “liberator.” Throughout history, there have been thousands of people claiming to be a “messiah,” or they have been given the label by others even if they did not claim it themselves.
Such messianic claims are usually based upon prophecies recorded earlier in history, such as the Buddhist Mettaya legend, the “Second Coming” prophecy of the Book of Revelation, the apocalyptic teachings of Zoroaster, or the Hebrew prophecies.
Many people look at all messianic claims with outright scepticism; others become avid followers of a leader whom they believe to be the fulfilment of a religious prophecy.
This raises the question: has there ever been, or will there ever be, a genuine messiah? How would one identify such a person?
Anyone who successfully develops a functional science of the spirit would obviously have a legitimate claim to the title of “messiah” in the “teacher” sense. How do we identify such a liberator when there are so many different prophecies with so many ways to interpret them?
The answer is simple: The would-be liberator must succeed. That person must earn the title; it is not God-given. This is a terribly cold and uncompromising way of looking at it. It strips away the magic and mysticism normally associated with messianic prophecy. It forces any person who would claim the title of messiah to bring about peace and spiritual salvation, because such a prophecy is not going to be fulfilled unless someone causes it to happen.
This compels the would-be liberator to fully overcome the overwhelming obstacles which act against these universal goals. This is one of the most unenviable tasks that any person could ever hope to undertake.
We need only look at past “liberators” to appreciate the long hard road that such a person must travel.
To date, no one has succeeded, but it is certainly a challenge worthy of the best talent.
By the year 1 A.D., the Hebrew religion had become well-settled in the Middle East. It was, however, undergoing many changes, some of which were caused by the extension of the Roman Empire into Palestine. The Romans often made life difficult for the Jews.
Some Hebrew sects, such as the Sadducees, proclaimed the coming of a Messiah from “God”— a Messiah who would prevail in the eternal struggle of good against evil and bring freedom to the oppressed Jews. This idea became quite popular among the Hebrews of Palestine, even though its strong political slant made it dangerous.
Old Testament messianic prophecies began as early as 750 B.C. with the prophet Isaiah. Jewish apocalypses appeared sporadically after that. Examples include Prophet Joel circa 400 B.C. and Daniel circa 165 B.C. To give the flavour of these predictions, See MALACHI 4:1-6 in the Old Testament, written shortly before 445 B.C.
Today, the Jews are still waiting for Elijah to appear, while Christians believe that Elijah was John the Baptist, the man who baptized Jesus Christ and who incidentally was his cousin.
A controversial religious leader was born in Bethlehem who tried to prevent himself from being declared an apocalyptic Messiah. He was unsuccessful and would be nailed to a wooden cross as a result. We know him today as Jesus Christ.
Which Messiah are we waiting for? When will our redeemer cometh? When will we start the journey to the Promised Land? Will we ever get there? Where is our Moses?
Judging from the nature of our country today, it will be impossible an impossibility, for our ‘empty sack to stand erect’. Can we ever get a Messiah? No people who are as polarized as we are; religiously, ethnically, linguistically, and perhaps spiritually can ever get a messiah: More so when they are apathetic and irresponsible.
There are a total of 93,469,008 registered voters in Nigeria but only 87,209,007 – 93.3 per cent– collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Yet only 27% of eligible voters decided the election. As if that is not enough, Lagos, Kano and Katsina with the highest number of voters 15 million could only deliver 4.8 million accredited voters. Indeed! We are really looking for a Messiah.
If the Jews are still waiting for Elijah after more than 3,000 years and Jesus has refused to come down after 2,023 years and the ‘Promised Messiah’ prophesied by Prophet Mohammed(SAW) is yet to come and our people are not ready to use their votes to elect their redeemer; who are we to be expecting a Messiah, Redeemer or Mahdi?
The problems facing us as a people are so insurmountable that our Swan song should really be ‘Oto Ge’; ‘e don do’, enough is enough! As far as our political travails are concerned, the election did not mark the end, it was not even the beginning of the end, but the end of a beginning. We need a paradigm shift.
Can the new administration create that shift? We would have to examine its inaugural message to see what it promises. Could hope be rekindled? Could hope be renewed? Could our expectations be resurrected? The following days, weeks and few months will tell. Just as morning shows the day.
Are we marching beyond the dimness of night into the open day of renewed national hope? ‘Are we going to remain faithful to the work inherent in building a better society or retreat into the shadows of our unmet potential’?
There is no doubt we have the capacity to create a better future.
In the coming days we shall hold the new administration to its promise of and concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal:
• Governance according to the rule of law
• Defend the nation from all threats of terrorism and criminality that threatens to destabilize the country.
• Rejig the economy with a view to bringing about prosperity to our people, and bring us out of this state of tattered penury.
• Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.
• Make security a priority ‘because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence’.
• Hence, the security doctrine and its architecture must be reformed.
• The police must be enlarged and better trained and equipped with better pay and firepower.
• More serious attention must be paid to the economy with a view towards higher GDP and reduced unemployment, especially of youths.
• Budgetary reforms and plugging of holes that aid padding and embezzlement.
• Fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.
• Therefore, a final solution should be found to the energy crisis with a view to making electricity more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double, and transmission and distribution networks improved. States should also be encouraged to develop local resources as well.
• The administration should not pay lip service to agriculture but make it a cardinal focus of its economic agenda. Not only should we tackle the issue of food security but also encourage the foundation for an agro-based industrial revolution.
• Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.
The foregoing are the minimum desiderata that will be used to judge the new administration.
We can therefore go back to ask: Is Ahmed Bola Tinubu the expected Messiah? Posterity will judge. It is still ‘morning yet on creation day’.
*IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQIM: Show us the straight way. (Quran 1:6)*
*Barka Juma’at and a happy weekend.*
*Babatunde Jose*
