WHY THE JEWS REJECTED JESUS AS GOD

The question of Jesus’ identity in relation to God lies at the heart of the theological and historical divide between early Christianity and Judaism. While Christians came to see Jesus as the divine Messiah and God incarnate, many Jews rejected these claims, rooted in their unwavering commitment to monotheism. I think one of the most pitiful verses in the Bible is in John 1:11, where it says, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” But why?

Jewish Monotheism: The Foundation of Rejection

During the Second Temple period (c. 516 BC–AD 70), Jewish theology was defined by strict monotheism, a response to the polytheistic cultures surrounding them, such as Canaanite, Babylonian, and Greco-Roman religions. Central to this belief was the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Scriptures like Isaiah 45:5 (“I am the Lord, and there is no other”) reinforced the idea of one indivisible God, known as Jehovah, the self-existent one.

This monotheism (belief in one God) distinguished Jews from pagans, who often worshipped multiple deities or deified humans, such as Roman emperors. Any suggestion of another divine figure risked idolatry or blasphemy, severe offenses in Jewish law (Exodus 20:3; Leviticus 24:16). While texts like Psalms 82:1 “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment” acknowledge “gods” (elohim), these are understood as divine beings or angels, not equals to Yahweh. Similarly, Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 recognizes the existence of “so-called gods” but affirms one God, the Father. As an aside here, it is my opinion that the Jewish customs and their belief in one God are the key factors in what has kept them as a people intact. In the history of the human race, no other people or country has been able to resist being assimilated into conquering nations or armies, except the Jewish people.

Jesus’ Claims and the Charge of Blasphemy

Jesus’ statements in the Gospels were interpreted by many Jewish leaders as violating this monotheistic principle. In John 10:30-33, Jesus declares, “I and my Father are one,” prompting the Jews to accuse him of blasphemy: “You, being a man, make yourself God.” Similarly, in John 5:17-18, Jesus calls God his Father and works on the Sabbath, leading to accusations of “making himself equal with God.” At his trial in Mark 14:61-64, Jesus affirms he is the Messiah and Son of God, referencing Daniel 7:13-14. The high priest accuses him of blasphemy, a charge warranting death, for claiming divine status.

To many Jews, these claims were scandalous. Jewish theology held that God is transcendent, invisible, and not human (Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man”). Even messianic expectations typically envisioned a human king like David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), not a divine figure. The idea of God incarnate, as later mentioned in John 1:14, was unthinkable in mainstream Judaism.

Why Monotheism Fueled Rejection

Several factors rooted in monotheism contributed to the Jewish rejection of Jesus:

1. Blasphemy Concerns: Jesus’ miracles, authority over the Law (Matthew 5:17-20), and titles like “Son of God” or “I AM” (John 8:58, echoing Exodus 3:14) were seen as usurping God’s unique glory (Isaiah 42:8: “My glory I give to no other”).

2. No Precedent for Incarnation: While Judaism included concepts like the Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:7-13) or personified Wisdom (Proverbs 8:22-31), these were not understood as God becoming human. The incarnation was a novel and problematic claim.

3. Protecting Monotheism: After centuries of resisting idolatry, Jewish leaders were vigilant against anything resembling polytheism or the worship of many gods. The idea of a second divine person (the Son) risked sounding like two gods.

Monotheism wasn’t the only reason for rejecting Jesus. Many Jews expected a political Messiah to overthrow Rome, not a spiritual savior who would die (1 Corinthians 1:23). Jesus’ crucifixion was a “stumbling block,” as a defeated Messiah contradicted expectations. Additionally, Jesus challenged religious authorities (Matthew 23), associated with sinners (Luke 15:1-2), and appeared to violate the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28), alienating the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Political pressures, including fear of Roman reprisals (John 11:48), further fueled opposition.

Christian Reconciliation: Jesus and Monotheism

Early Christians, many of whom were Jews, believed Jesus’ divinity fulfilled, rather than violated, monotheism. Christians argued Jesus was God incarnate, not a man becoming God. Philippians 2:6-8 and Colossians 2:9 (“In him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”) describe Jesus as God assuming human nature. The Chalcedonian Definition (AD 451) clarified Jesus as one person with two natures, fully divine and fully human, preserving monotheism.

In Matthew 16:17, Jesus told Peter that he had not come to understand who Jesus was through human sources like logic, experience, or tradition. He did not come to his conclusion based on natural deduction or hearsay but by divine revelation. The revelation came through the Spirit.

I remember when I came into the church through receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I struggled with the understanding of Jesus being the mighty God in Christ. I was torn by the various scriptures that seemed to show a distinction between the Son and the Father. I asked every person who would listen to me to explain the idea of Jesus being God. Finally, an elder in the church said that he could give me over 200 verses proving the singularity of God, but it would not help. He said that only the Spirit could reveal it to me and that if I really wanted to know, I should pray and fast for the answer. I followed his guidance.

Several weeks later, I was reading the Bible as was my custom, and I read the verses where Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). In that moment, the word “I” seemed to leap off the page directly in front of my face. Immediately, I remembered having read in Acts 4:10, (“…whom God raised from the dead). I reasoned that if Jesus said He would raise Himself up from the dead, yet Acts said God raised him up, the only way I could rationalize those statements was that either one of them was lying (which I did not entertain) or Jesus and God were the same being, just operating in different manners. I have not had a question about His oneness from that day forward.

Do you have a unique story of how you came to the revelation of Jesus being God in flesh?