Messiah or Prophet?

When Jesus fed the multitude with bread and fish, the crowd responded:

Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

- John 6:14

This reaction provides insight into the Jewish expectations of the time concerning the Messiah.

Messianic Expectation in the First Century

The reference to "the Prophet" draws directly from Deuteronomy 18:15-18, where Moses spoke of a future prophet like himself who would speak God's words with divine authority. Jewish thought in the first century included a spectrum of interpretations regarding this figure:

1. A Distinct Eschatological Prophet

Some traditions expected a prophetic leader separate from the Messiah–one who would prepare the way for Israel's final redemption.

2. A Combined Identity

Other views merged "the Prophet" with the Messiah Himself, suggesting a single individual who would fulfill both kingly and prophetic roles.

3. Political Overtones

Many anticipated that this figure would deliver Israel from foreign domination, restore the kingdom, and repeat the great works of Moses (e.g., providing bread as manna in the wilderness).

John 6 illustrates this complex expectation. The people saw Jesus perform a sign resembling Moses' provision of manna. Their conclusion–"This is the Prophet"–shows they recognized a direct fulfillment of Deuteronomy's promise. Yet in John 6:15, they attempt to make Him king by force, revealing their conviction that "the Prophet" was also the Messianic deliverer.

Didactic Application

The scene underscores the diversity and complexity of Messianic expectation in Jesus' day. Recognizing this helps modern readers understand why Jesus often corrected or redirected people's understanding of His mission. He fulfilled the role of Prophet, Messiah, and King, but not in the political sense anticipated by many.

For students of the New Testament, John 6:14 demonstrates that the line between "the Prophet" and "the Messiah" was not rigid in Jewish thought. To the crowd, Jesus was the long-awaited figure foretold by Moses; however, their expectation shaped the kind of Messiah they thought He should be. This explains both their enthusiasm and their later disappointment when He did not conform to their political hopes.