Rejection of Christ in the Gospels.
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· 658 viewsA short summary of the rejection of Christ in the Gospels.
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This morning, I would like to begin a short series of Sunday Schools in preparation for Easter. The first, is a general overview tracing the rejection of Christ by the Jews from start to finish.
As we begin, I would like to briefly mention a few concepts.
1. Introductory Issues:
1. Introductory Issues:
A. The Expectation of the Jews:
A. The Expectation of the Jews:
What did the Jews expect in a Messiah?
What they did expect:
Edersheim observes in Jewish literature that they recognized that the Messiah would be a prophet, priest, and King. But there need drove them to primarily looking for a conquering King.
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Chapter 5: What Messiah Did the Jews Expect?
In the absence of felt need of deliverance from sin, we can understand, how Rabbinic tradition found no place for the Priestly office of the Messiah, and how even His claims to be the Prophet of His people are almost entirely overshadowed by His appearance as their King and Deliverer. This, indeed, was the ever-present want, pressing the more heavily as Israel’s national sufferings seemed almost inexplicable, while they contrasted so sharply with the glory expected by the Rabbis.
Further, Edersheim notes that there were several aspects of Christ they did not expect.
What they did not expect:
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Chapter 5: What Messiah Did the Jews Expect?
We now approach this most difficult and delicate question: What was the expectation of the ancient Synagogue, as regarded the Nature, Person, and qualifications of the Messiah? In answering it—not at present from the Old Testament, but from the views expressed in Rabbinic literature, and, so far as we can gather from the Gospel-narratives, from those cherished by the contemporaries of Christ—two inferences seem evident. First, the idea of a Divine Personality, and of the union of the two Natures in the Messiah, seems to have been foreign to the Jewish auditory of Jesus of Nazareth, and even at first to His disciples. Secondly, they appear to have regarded the Messiah as far above the ordinary human, royal, prophetic, and even Angelic type, to such extent, that the boundary-line separating it from Divine Personality is of the narrowest, so that, when the conviction of the reality of the Messianic manifestation in Jesus burst on their minds, this boundary-line was easily, almost naturally, overstepped, and those who would have shrunk from framing their belief in such dogmatic form, readily owned and worshipped Him as the Son of God.
They did not expect the the unity of the Messiah as both God and Man.
They did not expect the the unity of the Messiah as both God and Man.
a) They rejected Christ because he claimed to be God.
a) They rejected Christ because he claimed to be God.
b) They rejected Christ because he came into the world through natural birth, of common parents, and common means.
b) They rejected Christ because he came into the world through natural birth, of common parents, and common means.
We will look at this more when we talk about the rejections of Christ.
B. The Relationship to the Kingdom:
B. The Relationship to the Kingdom:
All unifying views of Scripture hold to a rejection of the King and the Kingdom. (Covenant Theology, New Covenant Theology, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Traditional Dispensationalism)
All unifying views of Scripture hold to a rejection of the King and the Kingdom. (Covenant Theology, New Covenant Theology, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Traditional Dispensationalism)
All views hold that the Messiah was to be the anointed King of the lineage of David.
All views hold that the Messiah was to be the anointed King of the lineage of David.
Kingdom as Present Reality - Those who hold this position (Covenant Theology, Progressive Dispensationalism, and Realized Eschatology) would
talks about the Messiah being enthroned by God. So everybody understand that he is going to come as a ruling King.
Remember, that,
An important understanding of the rejection of Christ is it is also a rejection of His rule and the promised Kingdom. It is not only the rejection of the Savior ().
An important understanding of the rejection of Christ is it is also a rejection of His rule and the promised Kingdom. It is not only the rejection of the Savior ().
C. The Spiritual Reality of Christ’s Early Success.
C. The Spiritual Reality of Christ’s Early Success.
To say that Christ was rejected is not to say that Christ did not have any success.
Many crowds followed Jesus in his early ministry.
Many crowds followed Jesus in his early ministry.
However, there reason for following him early on was because of his miracles and the blessings of those miracles:
However, there reason for following him early on was because of his miracles and the blessings of those miracles:
a. Fascination with Signs.
a. Fascination with Signs.
b. The blessing of Healing.
b. The blessing of Healing.
c. The blessing of food.
c. The blessing of food.
d. The uniqueness of Christ’s teachings.
d. The uniqueness of Christ’s teachings.
His latter ministry demonstrated that there followings were not a Spiritual acceptance of the Messiah or the required repentance from there sins.
His latter ministry demonstrated that there followings were not a Spiritual acceptance of the Messiah or the required repentance from there sins.
2. The Rejection of Christ by Israel:
2. The Rejection of Christ by Israel:
There two main bodies that the Gospels include as rejecting Christ.
There two main bodies that the Gospels include as rejecting Christ.
1. The Rulers
1. The Rulers
a. The Roman Authorities.
a. The Roman Authorities.
1) Pilate (Roman Governor)
1) Pilate (Roman Governor)
2) Herod Antipas (King, ruling the area of Galilee)
2) Herod Antipas (King, ruling the area of Galilee)
b. The Sanhedrin
b. The Sanhedrin
1) Composed of 71 men including Priests, Scribes (also known as lawyers), and civil leaders (“elders”).
1) Composed of 71 men including Priests, Scribes (also known as lawyers), and civil leaders (“elders”).
2) The religious leaders were a mix of:
2) The religious leaders were a mix of:
a) Pharisee’s (controlled most synagogues, favored by the commoners)
a) Pharisee’s (controlled most synagogues, favored by the commoners)
b) Sadducee's (controlled the temple, favored by the upper class)
b) Sadducee's (controlled the temple, favored by the upper class)
c. Unaffiliated (according to Metzger)
c. Unaffiliated (according to Metzger)
2. The “Crowd” (Common Population of Israel).
2. The “Crowd” (Common Population of Israel).
Composed of 71 men:
As many of you have heard before, there is great emphases on the rejection of the Jewish religious rulers in and of the people in .
Now I do not disagree with the Emphases there. People rightly understand that as a defining moment in Jesus’s ministry and a culminating moment of rejection.
Priests
But understand, no one got up that day and decided they were going to reject Christ. The rejection was a culminating point in time. It began with disagreement well before the rejection in those two places.
I also would say that equal emphasis ought to be on the cross as the ultimate rejection by both the people and all rulers involved.
What I would like to do is trace the rejection of Christ from beginning to end as well as group them topically.
So understand the categories:
So understand the categories:
- The people groups who are doing the rejection.
- The people groups who are doing the rejection.
- The chronological aspect of the rejection.
- The chronological aspect of the rejection.
- The kinds of rejection.
- The kinds of rejection.
Much of what I am doing today is not found any one book. I asked Dr. Bookmen of Shepherds Seminary if there was an article, thesis, or book that does this. And he knew of none.
Most authors use and possibly as representative of the whole. (Examples: George Ladd, Darrell Bock, Alva McClain, and John Walvoord.)
Most primarily deal with
So I am really on my own in presenting this material so I ask for your grace as we work through it.
Chronology and People of the Rejection:
Chronology and People of the Rejection:
The Early and Mid ministry -
The Early and Mid ministry -
The Early and Mid ministry is a mix of excitement, curiosity, and the early beginnings of rejection.
The Early and Mid ministry is a mix of excitement, curiosity, and the early beginnings of rejection.
The Initial Success: Almost immediately we see large crowds coming out to see Jesus. (, , , )
The Initial Success: Almost immediately we see large crowds coming out to see Jesus. (, , , )
He begins with John the Baptist:
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
John was already gathering a crowd, but then Jesus comes at just increases the excitement.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
Matthew gives a great snapshot into his early success in .
English Standard Version Chapter 3
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
But we are also given a number of examples of people rejecting the ministry of Christ.
But we are also given a number of examples of people rejecting the ministry of Christ.
The Early Rejection of the Gospel:
The Early Rejection of the Gospel:
The cleansing of the temple- . A sign is requested, but the real importance of this is found in his trial when this is brought up. ()
The cleansing of the temple- . A sign is requested, but the real importance of this is found in his trial when this is brought up. ()
The cleansing of the temple in .
The crowd is falsely following him: .
The crowd is falsely following him: .
The
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
, : The disbelief by Nicodemus (a Pharisee) regarding entrance into the Kingdom.
, : The disbelief by Nicodemus (a Pharisee) regarding entrance into the Kingdom.
, , : The forgiving and healing of the paralytic man. The Pharisee’s reject Christ ability to forgive sins.
, , : The forgiving and healing of the paralytic man. The Pharisee’s reject Christ ability to forgive sins.
, : The disbelief by Nicodemus (a Pharisee) regarding entrance into the Kingdom. Unclear what the initial purpose was, but questioned Jesus about being “born again.”
, , : The Pharisee’s rebuke Jesus for being among public sinners.
, , : The Pharisee’s rebuke Jesus for being among public sinners.
: The Pharisee’s accuse Jesus of allowing a healed man to break the Sabbath (carried his bed as Jesus commanded).
: The Pharisee’s accuse Jesus of allowing a healed man to break the Sabbath (carried his bed as Jesus commanded).
Note: John makes a note that the Sabbath breaking was a major reason that the Pharisee’s persecuted Jesus (V. 16).
Note: John makes a note that the Sabbath breaking was a major reason that the Pharisee’s persecuted Jesus (V. 16).
16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.
And we could go on, listing out the accusations, Especially from the ruling religious leaders of the day.
From the very beginning, this tension begins to build up in the Gospels. A tension of what is becoming an increasing frequency of rejection. This is the basic summary of the first 2 1/2 years of Christ ministry
Finally, we come to what is rightly the big pivotal moment.
The Crucial Rejection of Christ:
The Crucial Rejection of Christ:
and mark the culminating rejection of Israel.
and mark the culminating rejection of Israel.
: Christ is the Bread of Life.
: Christ is the Bread of Life.
The true desire of the crowds: A free meal. (, )
The true desire of the crowds: A free meal. (, )
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:26
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 6:26
They saw miraculous signs, but to them it was only an easy meal. They failed to see what it signified.
They saw miraculous signs, but to them it was only an easy meal. They failed to see what it signified.
John 6:22-59
36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
: The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit.
: The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit.
: The Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit.
22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:22-32
Noticed what has happened (especially in v. 24 and 25).
The Occasion: The healing of the demon-oppressed man.
The Occasion: The healing of the demon-oppressed man.
The Rejection of the People: “Can this be the son of David?”
The Rejection of the People: “Can this be the son of David?”
Can (Μήτι) is “a marker that invites a negative response to the question that it introduces.” (BDAG)
Can (Μήτι) is “a marker that invites a negative response to the question that it introduces.” (BDAG)
The people are looking to the religious leaders to tell them that Jesus is not the Christ.
The people are looking to the religious leaders to tell them that Jesus is not the Christ.
The Rejection of the Rulers: It is a Satanic work.
The Rejection of the Rulers: It is a Satanic work.
“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
- This rejection is related to the Kingdom of God. [It is imbedded in the idea of the “Son of David” as well as the major theme of John the Baptist and Christ.]
- This rejection is related to the Kingdom of God. [It is imbedded in the idea of the “Son of David” as well as the major theme of John the Baptist and Christ.]
- This rejection was the rejection of the King of the Kingdom.
- This rejection was the rejection of the King of the Kingdom.
- This rejection was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because it attributes the Messiah’s work to Satan.
- This rejection was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because it attributes the Messiah’s work to Satan.
Christ responded by teaching in parables to hide the true intent of his meaning to the crowds and religious leaders.
Christ responded by teaching in parables to hide the true intent of his meaning to the crowds and religious leaders.
Family Rejection: Along with the Peoples rejection, Christ’s family rejected His message. (, , , )
Family Rejection: Along with the Peoples rejection, Christ’s family rejected His message. (, , , )
20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark
The Final Rejection of Christ:
The Final Rejection of Christ:
The Conspiracy of the Religious Leaders (, , and , )
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,
Because of this Jesus moved his ministry to Ephraim ().
Because of this Jesus moved his ministry to Ephraim ().
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.
(Slide showing Map)
The Triumphant Entry makes you wonder if Israel will change their mind. However,
The Triumphal Entry and Jesus’s attendance to the Passover provides the Sanhedrin the opportunity to arrest Jesus. (Matthew 21:45-46)
The Triumphal Entry and Jesus’s attendance to the Passover provides the Sanhedrin the opportunity to arrest Jesus. (Matthew 21:45-46)
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
Matthew
(End of Lesson 1)
Complete the question of rejection, and into Acts.
Characterize the types of Rejection.
Provide the so what.
Jesus, the Final Days The Theological Implications
From the Jewish perspective that embraced aspects of the popular messianism in late antiquity, Jesus is a failed Messiah. The Messiah is supposed to prevail over Israel’s enemies, as seen in several writings from this period. According to the men of Qumran, at least as we find in the War Scroll and related scrolls, the Messiah will lead his priestly warriors to victory over the hated Romans.
Jesus, the Final Days The Theological Implications
But Jesus gained no victory over the Romans. The Gentiles have not been driven out. His rule ended before it began. Instead of enthronement, his end was crucifixion; and as already has been mentioned, crucifixion was a degrading form of execution, reserved for slaves and the worst of the criminals.
A major reason for doubting the messianic identity of Jesus, on the part of the Jewish people, was the fact that Jesus died by crucifixion.
33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
They saw miraculous signs, but to them it was only an easy meal. They failed to see what it signified.
31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”