Don Stewart :: Did Jesus Know the People Would Reject Him?

Did Jesus Know the People Would Reject Him?

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – Question 16

When God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth, and preached the kingdom of God to the nation Israel His message was rejected. The religious leaders brought Him to Pilate for crucifixion because they believed Him to be a blasphemer. They said,

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” (John 19:7 NKJV)

Although some had believed in Him, the nation as a whole rejected Him. Did Christ know this would occur? Was He aware that His message would not be heeded? If so, then was His offer of a kingdom a legitimate one?

The following points need to be made.

1. Jesus’ Suffering and Glory Were Predicted

The two comings of Christ were predicted in the Old Testament. The prophets spoke of both His suffering and His glory. Peter wrote,

Some prophets told how kind God would be to you, and they searched hard to find out more about the way you would be saved. The Spirit of Christ was in them and was telling them how Christ would suffer and would then be given great honor. So they searched to find out exactly who Christ would be and when this would happen. (1 Peter 1:10, 11 CEV)

At His First Coming He was to suffer for the sins of the world. Jesus was well aware of what would happen to Him. He knew that His message would be rejected. This was all part of God’s eternal plan.

2. Jesus Often Spoke of His Death and Resurrection

At the beginning of His public ministry Jesus spoke of both His death and resurrection. We read of this in John’s gospel:

“What right do you have to do these things?” The Jewish leaders demanded. “If you have this authority from God, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” “What!” they exclaimed. “It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can do it in three days?” But by “this temple,” Jesus meant his body. After he was raised from the dead, the disciples remembered that he had said this. And they believed both Jesus and the Scriptures. (John 2:18-22 NLT)

From the very beginning of His public ministry Jesus was well aware that the people would reject Him. He knew that He would eventually die for the sins of the world.

3. He Made a Legitimate Offer of a Kingdom

Does this make His offer of a kingdom illegitimate? No. When Jesus came the first time, He promised the people that God’s kingdom would take place if they believed in Him. Yet, they rejected Him. The Bible says,

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (John 1:10 NRSV)

Jesus knew they were going to reject Him. However that did not make His offer invalid. If the people would have believed in Him, God’s kingdom would have been established then and there. The offer was legitimate. But Jesus knew they would not believe.

4. He Has Promised to Come Again

Though the rightful King was crucified Jesus Christ has promised to come again for those who believe in Him. He said to His disciples,

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3 NKJV)

Therefore, the kingdom will indeed be set up, but only when He comes again.

In sum, Jesus knew all along that He would be rejected by the people. He also knew that He would have to die.

Summary – Question 16
Did Jesus Know the People Would Reject Him?

The people of Jesus’ time rejected Him as their Messiah. Jesus knew ahead of time that this would happen. However, this does not make His offer of an immediate kingdom illegitimate. Had the people believed in Him God’s kingdom would have been immediately set up.

However, the people chose to reject Him and put Him to death rather than accept Him as their Messiah. Knowing this, Jesus talked about His death and resurrection from the dead. He will indeed set up His promised kingdom—when He comes the second time.