Why Do Jews Reject Jesus?

With the exception of a fairly small number who convert to Christianity, Jews as a whole do not regard the relationship of Judaism to Christianity in anything like the light most Christians do. Whereas we tend to think of Christianity as the most true and natural form of Judaism (some have called it “completed Judaism”), most Jews view this not only as an error but even a fairly offensive notion. We are baffled they don’t accept Jesus. They are baffled we would think they should. So, I thought it might be interesting to explore just what is going on in the general Jewish rejection of Jesus.

Great Comments from people and calls on the air! Here are my own answers to the question:

A. Silly but tragically common answers
1. They are stupid
2. They are evil
3. They are stubborn
4. They don’t know the Bible. It is hardly true that most Jews know the Bible less well than most Christians. It is also a silly point since the Pharisees and Scribes knew the Bible very, very well and still rejected Jesus.

B. Legitimate concerns
1. Historical Mistreatment
a. They have been long mistreated by Christians
b. They have long been alienated from Christians as persisting in a false religion.
c. The idea of Judeo-Christian harmony is extremely new historically, less than 100 years old in fact. The very idea of them being compatible, in other words, is novel.
2. Jesus did not come and usher in a golden age of political triumph over enemies and enduring peace. We fully believe that He will in the future at the Second Coming, but the whole reason we believe that is because it is a massively important part of the prophetic role for the true Messiah in the Old Testament. No matter how many prophecies Jesus did fulfill, it must be granted that He has not yet fulfilled these.
3. Jesus wasn’t special
a. Others raised the dead
b. Others proclaimed wisdom
c. Others were martyred.

C. Sociological/psychological
1. Give up their very identity as members of the Jewish community
2. You simply cannot be a Jewish Christian as far as most Jews are concerned. To convert to Christianity is to die to Judaism.
3. Imagine how absurd you would think it if someone said, "Convert to Al Queda, it’s the true home of real American patriots."
4. Loss of family
5. Viewed as a traitor to an already embattled and beleaguered race. Everyone is always trying to stamp out the Jews. The Christians want to do it by making us just be like them.

D. Analogical
1. How do you feel about Mormons and their claims?
a. To possess the true understanding of the Bible
b. To be the heirs of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ
c. To think that you need saving yourself

E. God’s sovereignty
1. God has not opened their eyes yet
2. God has a later plan for the Jews

F. Theological difficulties
1. Jesus claimed to be God, which is blasphemous
2. Trinity is heretical, violation of monotheism.
3. Christians can’t be “true Jews” since we disobey the vast majority of the Old Testament Law, especially Kosher laws and Sabbath, let alone profaning God's name by so casually using it.
4. Vicarious atonement is unjust. How can someone else pay for an evil man's deeds?
5. Mercy toward the evil is unjust.
6. They believe they know God already, they’ve been “God’s chosen people” for three thousand years, haven’t they?
7. The way Christians treat God with familiarity bordering on contempt is disrespectful.