What did Old Testament rabbis understand about the coming Messiah?
Old Testament rabbis and students of the prophets understood two aspects of the coming Messiah: one Messiah as King establishing the Kingdom, and a parallel suffering Savior. Some rabbis even concluded there would be two Messiahs—one to fulfill each role. The Savior title, Jehoshua, points to Jesus, who saves people from sin.
Les explains that all through the Old Testament, the rabbis and those who studied the prophets understood two aspects of a coming Messiah. In fact, some rabbis thought there would be two Messiahs: one who would fulfill the promise of being the King and setting up the Kingdom, and another who would fulfill the parallel idea of a suffering Savior. The word Savior is Jehoshua, and out of that name Jehoshua comes the name Jesus, because He shall save the people from their sin. This comes up as the twelve ask privately on the Mount of Olives about the sign of His coming and the end of the age.