Topical Bible: The Jews: Christ: Rejected By

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The rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jewish people is a significant theme in the New Testament, reflecting the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. This rejection is portrayed as both a historical event and a theological necessity, serving as a pivotal moment in the narrative of salvation history.

Prophetic Background

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies that foretell the coming of the Messiah and the subsequent rejection by His own people. Isaiah 53:3 poignantly describes the suffering servant: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." This passage highlights the anticipated rejection and suffering of the Messiah, which is echoed in the New Testament accounts.

New Testament Accounts

The Gospels provide detailed narratives of how Jesus was rejected by the Jewish leaders and many of the people. In the Gospel of John, the rejection is articulated early on: "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). This verse encapsulates the broader theme of rejection that permeates the Gospel accounts.

Rejection by Religious Leaders

The Jewish religious leaders, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes, played a central role in the rejection of Christ. Their opposition is documented throughout the Gospels, as they frequently challenged Jesus' authority and sought to undermine His ministry. In Matthew 12:14 , it is recorded, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." This hostility culminated in their involvement in His arrest and crucifixion.

Public Rejection

The broader Jewish populace also participated in the rejection of Jesus, particularly evident during His trial before Pontius Pilate. Despite Pilate's attempts to release Jesus, the crowd, influenced by the chief priests, demanded His crucifixion. In Mark 15:13-14 , the crowd's insistence is clear: "And they shouted back, 'Crucify Him!' 'Why?' asked Pilate. 'What evil has He done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Crucify Him!'"

Theological Implications

The rejection of Christ by the Jews is not merely a historical event but carries profound theological implications. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Romans 11, explaining that Israel's rejection is part of God's sovereign plan to extend salvation to the Gentiles. Romans 11:11 states, "Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious."

Fulfillment of Prophecy

The rejection of Jesus by the Jewish people is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy and a necessary step in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. In Acts 4:11 , Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin, declares, "This Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'" This reference to Psalm 118:22 underscores the belief that the rejection was foreseen and integral to the establishment of the Church.

Conclusion

The rejection of Christ by the Jews is a complex and multifaceted topic within the biblical narrative. It serves as a testament to the fulfillment of prophecy, the unfolding of God's plan for salvation, and the extension of grace to all nations. The New Testament writers consistently present this rejection as both a historical reality and a theological necessity, integral to the mission and message of Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 1:11
He came to his own, and his own received him not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Jews, in Rejecting Christ, Rejected God who Sent Him.
... Chapter CXXXVI."The Jews, in rejecting Christ, rejected God who sent him.
"For you see how He now addresses the people, saying ...
/.../chapter cxxxvi the jews in rejecting.htm

How the Apostle's Preaching was Rejected by Jews and Gentiles ...
... Book III. Chapter IX. How the Apostle's preaching was rejected by Jews and Gentiles
because it confessed that the crucified Christ was God. ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ix how the apostles.htm

The Dispersion of the Jews, and their Desolate Condition for ...
... Now, since you join the Jews in denying that their ... to bring on themselves after the
time of Christ, for the impiety wherewith they both rejected and slew ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxiii the dispersion of the.htm

Community in Certain Points of Marcionite and Jewish Error ...
... [3173] Now, when these things are carefully considered, it becomes evident how the
Jews both rejected Christ and slew Him; not because they regarded Him as a ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter vi community in certain points.htm

Dialogue of Justin, Philosopher and Martyr, with Trypho
... Chapter CXXXVI.--The Jews, in rejecting Christ, rejected God who sent him.
Chapter CXXXVII.--He exhorts the Jews to be converted. ...
/.../justin/dialogue of justin philosopher and martyr with trypho/

Whether Christ Should have Preached not Only to the Jews, but Also ...
... Jerome says: "It behooved Christ's coming to be announced to the Jews first, lest
they should have a valid excuse, and say that they had rejected our Lord ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ should have preached.htm

Salvation to the Jews
... the awful doom pronounced upon the Jews as a ... in the lowly Nazarene whom their
forefathers rejected and crucified ... human being who chooses to accept Christ as a ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 35 salvation to the.htm

The Millennium in Relation to Christ.
... King of the Jews." But as we have seen, Israel rejected their King and crucified
Him. And what we now desire to emphasize is, that, Jesus Christ has never yet ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/2 the millennium in relation.htm

Jesus Rejected in Jerusalem.
... our Lord traces the unbelief of the Jews to the ... the worst of bondages (ver.34), accepted
Christ's word, and ... Those who rejected Him were prompted to do so by ...
/.../xix jesus rejected in jerusalem.htm

Sedition of the Jews against Pontius Pilate. Concerning Christ ...
... He was [the] Christ. ... the same time also another sad calamity put the Jews into disorder ...
dignity to be caught by presents, and had already rejected them, though ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 sedition of the.htm