Did you know that this is exactly the reason why the Jews rejected Christ?
Yes, Because they did not understand Jesus had to come first as suffering servant, before he could come as king messiah,
What good would it do for Christ to set up his kingdom on earth, if non of his subjects would ever get to heaven, He had to take care of sin first.
All we have to do is look at the prophets to see this.
Look at the prophesies concerning king messiah and the suffering servant.
Messianic prophesies - micah 5: 2 - Zech 14: 9-16:
1. He will be human, born as a child
2. He will
be a ruler (government will be on his shoulders)
3. He will be God himself (He will be called mighty God)
4. Hiskingdom will be eternal, it will never end.
5. He
will NEVER DIE
6. He will come from Judah, and
rule isreal, and his kingdom will be worldwide in scope. and his kingdom will come from the strength of God himself. it can not be defeated.
7. Those
who rebelled againsed him, and survived the final battle will come and worship him. No one will look down on him, but look up to him. and serve him and him only.
8. He will
be served, not be a servant.
9. We are given his name:
Messiah, or as we know it Christ.
Concerning the suffering servant:
Isaiah 53:
1. He will
be human. (no mention of him being God)
2. He will
have no kingdom, no one will look up to him, they will look down on him.
3. He
is not said to be God (although he is not said not to be God)
4. He
takes our punsihment for our sin.
5. He
dies a horrible death
6. He
will rise from the dead
7. His
death will justify many.
8. He
is given no name. so we do not know who he will be.
If you look at these two. You could never say they were the same person, they have two different characteristics.
that is why the pharisees killed Jesus, they wanted the first person. they did not think they were sinners or needed saved, they had no desire, or need of the second.
this is the mystery that paul spoke of.