Why did many Jews believe the messiah would soon appear?

Answer 1

The Bible spoke of many "Messiahs"(ones who were 'anointed' for a specific purpose), but they ALL pointed forward to THEMessiah that would ultimately come through the line of Abraham(Genesis 22:18)(James 2:23), would be sent first to Abraham's descendants, the Jews(Romans 1:16), and then as a sacrifice for the 'whole world' of faithful mankind(1 John 2:1&2)(Galatians 3:6-9,26-29). God promised a messiah because humans would have no hope without one (Psalms 49:7) and his sacrifice was prophesied hundreds of years beforehand at Daniel 9:25&26.

The reason a 'Messiah' was needed:

Adam was created perfect and could have lived forever, with his ongoing family, but knowingly chose to disobey God. Because he now fell short of perfection, he was a 'sinner', and lost his relationship with God and his everlasting life, for himself and all his yet unborn descendants. (Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 2:17(Gen.3:6)) Job 14:4. We needed a 'repurchaser' to buy us back and give us a chance to live forever, as originally intended.

Death spread from Adam to all his descendants (Romans 5:12) "through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned. (Psalms 51:5)(Job 14:1-4) (James 1:14-15)(Romans 7:21-25) The Bible then tells us that " the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord".(Romans 6:23) (Hebrews 4:15)(1 John 2:1 & 2) The Mosaic Law temporarily covered the sins of mankind using animal sacrifices...(Hebrews 9:22)(Leviticus 17:11)(Leviticus 9:9) but it ALL pre-figured the coming of THE Messiah.

Jesus willingly came to earth as that 'Messiah' ("Christ", 'Anointed One") to REPLACE our sinful human father, Adam. To give 'life for life', a perfect human life, equal to Adam, but faithful to death(1 Corinthians 15:45). He paid a 'ransom' for us (Matthew 20:28), to buy us back from the 'enemy- 'death' (1Corinthians 15:26) to give us a choice. For righteous hearted people, who want to OBEY God, he provides not only a sacrifice for our sins, but someone to set an example for us to follow(1 Corinthians 15:45)(1 Peter 2:21&22)(Matthew 7:21-23), and a way to fulfill God's original purpose for righteous mankind to live forever.(Acts 17:26)((Isaiah 55:11)(Psalms 37:10,11,29 / Matthew 5:5)

Jewish Answer

The word 'messiah' is the anglicisation of the Hebrew 'moshiach'. The word moshiach translates to 'anointed'. The title of moshiach was given to any person who was appropriately anointed with oil as part of their initiation to their service of HaShem. We have had many moshiachim (pl) in the form of kings, priests, prophets, and judges. There is absolutely nothing supernatural about a moshiach. There is a prophecy about a future moshiach, however, he'll be a mortal man who will lead the country of Israel.

The claims of a messiah who was a sacrifice for mankind's sin is an abomination according to the teachings of the Tanach (Jewish Bible). HaShem specifically states that human sacrifice is an abomination, that it is not possible for one person to atone for the sins of another, that it is not possible to atone for sins not yet committed, and that He will NEVER be man or son of man.

Answer 2

If you're referring to the period of Jewish life 2000 years ago, Jews didn't believe that hamoshiach would arrive; they hoped he would, as they always do.

Please note that the Christian concept of messiah doesn't exist in Judaism. Hamoshiach will be a fully mortal man who will be a just leader of Israel.