If The Jews Had Accepted Jesus

by David Padfield

Modern premillennial theory insists God had not anticipated the rejection of Jesus by the Jews. They often think that God was shocked when Jesus "came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). They also teach that one day Christ will return to this earth and the Jews will then accept Him as their Messiah. The Bible teaches that the Father in heaven knew all along how the Jews would react to His Son Jesus. God had planned the time perfectly and "when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4).

Have you ever considered what would have happened if the Jews had accepted Jesus as their Savior and King? Let's look at the consequences:

First, there would have been no crucifixion, and hence no shedding of blood. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). However, Jesus spent His entire earthly life preparing for the cross. "'And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die." (John 12:23-33).

Second, since there would have been no shedding of blood, there could be no remission of sins. "And according to the law almost all things are purged with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). On the night in which He was betrayed, as He instituted the Lord's Supper, Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28).

Third, the church would have never been established, since it was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. When Paul addressed the elders from Ephesus, he admonished them "to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). The church is composed of saved people. In the New Testament, "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

Fourth, if the Jews had accepted Christ as their Messiah, there would be no gospel, since the foundation of it is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:3-4). This "message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18).

Premillennialists usually have very little use for the gospel of Christ—they look upon it with contempt, however, "it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." (1 Cor. 1:21). Do you believe in the power of the gospel?

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