An unprecedented context

The expectation of the Messiah was especially high at the beginning of our era, at the time of the Virgin Mary, as evidenced by the Gospel and several Jewish and pagan writings, because some prophecies explicitly and specifically talked about the time of His coming.

The Gospel testifies to the ever-present character of this special expectation that seized everyone. As "the people were waiting expectantly" (Lk 3:15), when John the Baptist appeared, all were asking him: "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"(Lk 7:19).

It was an absolutely unprecedented context, and, in the opinion of many historians, the exceptional character of Christianity’s appearance alone is enough to place it apart in the religious history of the world.

The expectation of the fullness of time had become so strong and precise, in that particular period of history, that more than 100 Messiah candidates were identified by historians! Gamaliel alludes to them in his speech in the defense of the Apostles before the Sanhedrin.

The "Foi Chrétienne" (Christian Faith) team