Arise and Shine and the Hidden Light of the Messiah

Pesikta Rabbati 36:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but upon you the LORD will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1-2). This is what was said by the holy spirit through David king of Israel: "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalms 36:10). The assembly of Israel said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the world, for the sake of the Torah You gave me, which is called a fountain of life, I am destined to delight in Your light in the time to come. What light is this that the assembly of Israel awaits? This is the light of the Messiah, as it says, "And God saw the light, that it was good" (Genesis 1:4). This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, foresaw the Messiah and his deeds before the world was created, and hid him for His Messiah and his generation beneath the throne of His glory. Satan said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the world, the light hidden beneath the throne of Your glory, for whom is it? He said to him: for the one who is destined to turn you back and put you to shame. He said: show him to me. He said: come and see him. When Satan saw him, he trembled and fell on his face and said: Surely this is the Messiah who is destined to cast me and all the princes of the nations into Gehinnom. At that the nations were stirred and said: who is this in whose hand we shall fall? What is his name? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: He is the Messiah, and his name is Ephraim My righteous Messiah, who raises his stature and the stature of his generation and gives light to the eyes of Israel and saves his people, and no nation or tongue can stand before him. The Holy One, blessed be He, began to make a condition with him, saying: those whose sins are stored up with you will bring you under an iron yoke and make you like this calf whose eyes have dimmed, and they will choke your spirit with the yoke, and because of their sins your tongue will cleave to your palate. Do you accept this? The Messiah said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, perhaps this suffering will be for many years? He said to him: by your life and the life of My head, one week is what I have decreed upon you; if your soul is grieved, I will banish them from now. He said before Him: Master of the worlds, with the gladness of my soul and the joy of my heart I take it upon myself, on condition that not one of Israel perish, and not only the living be saved in my days, but also those hidden in the dust, and even the stillborn, and even those whom You thought to create who were not created. For this I take it upon myself.

Themes

MessiahLightRedemption

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