في سنة ٦٣ قبل الميلاد، كانت القدس وفلسطين تحت احتلال الرومان الوثنيين، ليبدأ بذلك عهدٌ جديد من التعذيب والإذلال والمعاناة لبني إسرائيل، الذين طال انتظارهم لمنقذٍ عظيم يعيد إليهم المملكة الضائعة وسلطة الحكم.

In 63, B.C.E. Jerusalem & Palestine were under occupation of the pagan Romans, to start a new period of torture, abuse and suffering for the children of Israel. The people who had waited long for a great savior to return the lost kingdom and the ruling power to them.

بنو إسرائيل كانوا ينتظرون تحقق النبوءات التي أعطاها يعقوب وموسى وداود وغيرهم من الأنبياء بشأن "النبي المنتظر". ولم يكن لديهم أدنى شك في ظهور "الملك والنبي المنصور"، النبي الذي سيقود أتباعه إلى مجد الحياة وسعادة الآخرة. ولذلك، لما جاء عيسى العظيم عليه السلام، ولما رأوا المعجزات التي أذن الله له أن يجريها، اتبعه كثير منهم، راجين أن يكون هو "النبي العظيم المنصور"، و"النبي المخلِّص". وهذه حقيقة يدركها بوضوح من يعرف أقوال اليهود الذين عاصروا عيسى عليه السلام.

The children of Israel awaited the fulfillment of the prophecies given by Jacob, Moses and David and other prophets regarding the "expected prophet". They had no doubt in the "Victorious king and prophet" appearance, the prophet who will lead his followers to the glory of life and the happiness of the hereafter. Therefore, when the great Jesus (PBUH) came, and when they saw the miracles that God allowed him to perform, many of them followed him (PBUH), hoping that he is the "victorious great prophet", the "savior prophet". This is a fact clearly understood by those who are acquainted with the sayings of the Jews who were contemporary with Jesus (PBUH).

أخبرتنا الكتب المقدسة عن بعض الذين كانوا ينتظرون "الملك المنتصر الموعود". وكان سمعان واحدًا منهم، وقد وصفه لوقا بقوله: "وَإِذَا رَجُلٌ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ اسْمُهُ سِمْعَانُ، وَهَذَا الرَّجُلُ كَانَ bَارًّا تَقِيًّا، يَنْتَظِرُ تَعْزِيَةَ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَكَانَ الرُّوحُ الْقُدُسُ عَلَيْهِ." (لوقا 2: 25)، وكان سمعان من الذين كانوا ينتظرون الخلاص.

The Holy Scriptures told us about some of those who awaited the "victorious expected king". Simeon was one of them, described by Luke "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him." (Luke: 2:25), Simeon was one of those who were awaiting salvation.

ونثنائيل، الذي اعترف علنًا لعيسى (عليه السلام) بمشاعره وأفكاره، كان واحدًا منهم: «فَأَجَابَ نَثَنَائِيلُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا مُعَلِّمُ، أَنْتَ ابْنُ اللهِ! أَنْتَ مَلِكُ إِسْرَائِيلَ! أَجَابَ يَسُوعُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: لأَنِّي قُلْتُ لَكَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُكَ تَحْتَ التِّينَةِ، آمَنْتَ؟ سَوْفَ تَرَى أَعْظَمَ مِنْ هَذَا.» (يوحنا 1/49-50)

Nathaniel, who openly confessed to Jesus (PBUH) about his feelings and his thoughts, was one of them, "Nathaniel answered and said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." (John: 1/49- 50)

عندما انتشرت الشائعات بأنّ عيسى (عليه السلام) قد صُلب، حزن بعضهم حزنًا شديدًا، لأنّ النجاة التي كانوا يرجونها قد انتهت.

When the rumors that Jesus (PBUH) was crucified spread, some of them were very sad because the salvation they hoped for had ended.

عندما ظهر عيسى (عليه السلام) متنكّراً لاثنين من التلاميذ بعد القيامة، تعجّبا، ﴿وَقَالَ لَهُمَا: مَا هَذَا الْكَلَامُ الَّذِي تَتَطَارَحَانِهِ وَأَنْتُمَا مَاشِيَانِ وَمُغْتَمَّانِ؟ فَأَجَابَ أَحَدُهُمَا، واسمُه كِلِيوباس، وقال له: هَلْ أَنْتَ نَزِيلٌ وَحْدَكَ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ وَلَسْتَ تَعْلَمُ الأُمُورَ الَّتِي جَرَتْ فِيهَا في هذِهِ الأَيَّامِ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: وَمَا هِيَ؟ فَقَالا لَهُ: الْمُتَعَلِّقَةُ بِيَسُوعَ النَّاصِرِيِّ، الَّذِي كَانَ إِنْسَاناً نَبِيّاً مُقْتَدِراً فِي الْفِعْلِ وَالْقَوْلِ أَمَامَ اللهِ وَجَمِيعِ الشَّعْبِ، وَكَيْفَ أَسْلَمَهُ رُؤَسَاءُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَحُكَّامُنَا لِقَضَاءِ الْمَوْتِ وَصَلَبُوهُ. وَأَمَّا نَحْنُ فَكُنَّا نَرْجُو أَنَّهُ هُوَ الْمُزْمِعُ أَنْ يَفْدِيَ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَمَعَ هذَا كُلِّهِ فَاليَوْمُ لَهُ ثَلاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ منذُ حَدَثَتْ هذِهِ﴾ [لوقا ٢٤/١٧-٢١]. كانوا ينتظرون أن يأتي الخلاص على يديه، كما أُخبر في أسفار التوراة عن مجيء "الملك المنتصر" الذي يحرّر شعبه ويقودهم إلى النصر، أما هم فلم يسمعوا إلا خبر صلبه.

When Jesus (PBUH) –disguised- appeared to two of the disciples after resurrection they were surprised, "And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that you have one to another, as you walk, and are sad? One of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem, and has not known the things that happened there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done." (Luke: 24/17-21). They were awaiting the salvation to come through him, as foretold in the scriptures of the Torah about the coming of the "victorious king" that will free his people, and lead them to victory. In the contrary, they just heard of his crucifixion.

قال الحواريون لعيسى (عليه السلام) بعد القيامة: «فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا سَأَلُوهُ قَائِلِينَ: يَا رَبُّ، هَلْ فِي هَذَا الْوَقْتِ تَرُدُّ الْمُلْكَ إِلَى إِسْرَائِيلَ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: لَيْسَ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْرِفُوا الأَزْمِنَةَ وَالأَوْقَاتَ الَّتِي جَعَلَهَا الآبُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ». (أعمال الرسل 1/6-7). قصد أن هذا ليس وقت "الملك المنتظر".

The disciples said to Jesus (PBUH) after the resurrection, "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power." (Acts: 1/6-7). He meant that it is not the time for the "expected king”.

قال عوض سمعان: «من يتأمل العلاقة بين التلاميذ والرسل وعيسى (عليه السلام)، سيجد أنهم لم يعدّوه إلا إنسانًا… كانوا ينتظرون المسيح، لكن المسيح، وفق الأفكار الموروثة عن أسلافهم، لم يكن سوى رسول ممتاز أرسله الله.»1

Awad Samaan said: " those who examined the relationship between the disciples, apostles and Jesus (PBUH), will find that they only considered him as a man…they were waiting for the messiah, but the messiah, according to the ideas inherited from their ancestors, was nothing more than an excellent messenger sent by God.1

كان بنو إسرائيل، الذين انتظروا طويلاً مجيء "النبي العظيم المنتصر"، يظنّون أنّ يحيى المعمدان هو المسيح المنتظر: «وَكَانَ الشَّعْبُ يَنْتَظِرُ، وَكَانَ الْجَمِيعُ يُفَكِّرُونَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ عَنْ يُوحَنَّا، هَلْ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ أَمْ لاَ» (لوقا 3: 15).

The people of Israel, who waited long for the coming of the "victorious great prophet", thought that John the Baptist was the expected messiah " And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he was the Christ, or not; " (Luke: 3/15).

هؤلاء الجموع الذين كانوا ينتظرون الخلاص، لما رأوا عيسى (عليه السلام)، قالوا عنه ما كانوا قد قالوه من قبل عن يحيى المعمدان: "وقالوا للمرأة: إنا لسنا من أجل قولك نؤمن الآن، فإننا قد سمعنا نحن أنفسنا، وعلمنا أن هذا هو حقًا المسيح، مخلّص العالم." (يوحنا ٤/٤٢).

These crowds, who were waiting for salvation, when they saw Jesus (PBUH), they said about him what they have said before about John the Baptist "And said unto the woman, now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John: 4/42).

قال أندرو لأخيه سمعان: «لقد وجد أولاً أخاه سمعان، فقال له: قد وجدنا المسيح، الذي تفسيره المسيح». (يوحنا:

Andrews said to his brother Simon, "He first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, we have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." (John:

1/41). فقال أندروز، كما قال القس الخضري: "لم يقصد بهذه الجملة أكثر مما يقصده يهودي تقي كان ينتظر مجيء المسيح ليخلّص إسرائيل ويحرّرها من العبودية الأجنبية، ثم يجدّد الحياة الروحية". 1

1/41). He, Andrews, - as the priest Al-Khodary said:- "By this sentence, he meant nothing more than what a pious Jew, who awaited the arrival of the messiah to save and free Israel from the foreign slavery then refresh the spiritual life ". 1

قالت المرأة السامرية لما رأت معجزاته: «قالت له المرأة: أنا أعلم أن المسيح يأتي، الذي يُدعى المسيح: فمتى جاء يخبرنا بكل شيء.» (يوحنا ٤: ٢٥-٣٠)

The Samaritan woman when she saw his wonders " The woman said unto him, I know that Messiah will come, which is called Christ: when he comes, he will tell us all things.” (John: 4/25-30).

ذاع هذا الخبر بين بني إسرائيل، حتى خاف كبار الكهنة من انتقام الرومان إن علموا أن "المسيح المنتظر المنتصر العظيم" قد ظهر في شخص عيسى ﷺ. لذلك بدأوا يدبرون للإيقاع به، متهمين إياه بإفساد الأمة، ومدّعين أنه "المخلّص المنتظر". ﴿فَجَمَعَ رُؤَسَاءُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَالْفِرِّيسِيُّونَ مَجْمَعًا وَقَالُوا: مَاذَا نَصْنَعُ؟ فَإِنَّ هَذَا الإِنْسَانَ يَصْنَعُ آيَاتٍ كَثِيرَةً. إِنْ تَرَكْنَاهُ هَكَذَا يُؤْمِنُ الْجَمِيعُ بِهِ، فَيَأْتِي الرُّومَانِيُّونَ وَيَأْخُذُونَ مَوْضِعَنَا وَأُمَّتَنَا. فَقَالَ لَهُمْ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ، وَهُوَ قَيَافَا، كَانَ رَئِيسَ الْكَهَنَةِ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ: أَنْتُمْ لَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا، وَلَا تُفَكِّرُونَ أَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ لَنَا أَنْ يَمُوتَ إِنْسَانٌ وَاحِدٌ لأَجْلِ الشَّعْبِ، وَلَا تَهْلِكَ الأُمَّةُ كُلُّهَا﴾ [يوحنا: 11/47-50].

This news had spread among the children of Israel, until the high priests feared the revenge of the Romans if they found out that the "victorious great expected messiah" appeared in the person of Jesus (PBUH). Therefore, they started to plan to frame him, accusing him of corrupting the nation, and claiming that he is the "expected savior", "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, what do we? For this man does many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." (John: 11/47-50).

ثُمَّ بَدَءُوا يَتَّهِمُونَهُ قَائِلِينَ: إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا هَذَا يُفْسِدُ الأُمَّةَ، وَيَمْنَعُ أَنْ تُعْطَى الجِزْيَةُ لِقَيْصَرَ، وَيَقُولُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ المَسِيحُ مَلِكٌ. فَسَأَلَهُ بِيلاطُسُ قَائِلاً: أَأَنْتَ مَلِكُ اليَهُودِ؟ فَأَجَابَهُ وَقَالَ: أَنْتَ تَقُولُ. فَقَالَ بِيلاطُسُ لِرُؤَسَاءِ الكَهَنَةِ وَالجُمُوعِ: لَسْتُ أَجِدُ عِلَّةً فِي هَذَا الإِنْسَانِ. ({لُوقا: 23/2-4}). وَقَدْ تَبَيَّنَ لِبِيلاطُسَ أَنَّ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا اتُّهِمَ بِهِ، إِذْ لَمْ يَدَّعِ أَنَّهُ المَلِكُ المُنْتَظَرُ لِلْيَهُودِ.

Then they said to Pilate, "And they began to accuse him, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding giving tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, you said it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." (Luke: 23/2-4). Pilate found out that Jesus (PBUH) was innocent of what they accused him, as he did not claim that he is the expected king of the Jews.