What did the ancient Jews have in mind when they thought "Messiah"?

Included in some Bibles, but not often found in Protestant Bibles, are the Books of Maccabees. They detail some pretty intense stories, stories that help give context to the Gospels in the New Testament. The Jews were living in a time that had specific and intricate political and religious realities. We try to distill some of these events so we can get a better idea of the world the Jesus enters and ministers into.

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