The people of Israel witnessed that the Messiah was to come, since this was prophesied by the prophets of Israel, however, they did not expect a Messiah to deliver them from sin and the wrath of God, they expected a Christ who would free from the dominant empire at that time and for this reason they did not receive him, as he says: “he came to his own and they did not receive him” (John 1:11).
Throughout his ministry Jesus performed great miracles for the people of Israel, he did things that no other person had ever done, however, the contempt was so great that they ended up crucifying him like a thief. The fact that it was God’s purpose for his Son to die on the cross does not mean that those who crucified him were not guilty, Peter confirms this in his first speech:
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you with the wonders, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, as you yourselves know; this one, delivered by the determined counsel and advance knowledge of God, you seized and killed by the hands of iniquitous, crucifying him (Acts 2:22-23).
These verses also show how the Pharisees, scribes and all the people rejected Jesus by handing him over to the crucifixion. To this day, many Jews still wait for the promised Messiah, being slow to believe that he already died and rose again more than two thousand years ago.
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