Booger McLovin

When I first read the Gospels, one thing that struck me was how easily many of the Pharisees rejected Christ. They saw Him heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, open the ears of the deaf, and even raise the dead. Yet they still turned away from Him.

Corruption in Leadership

The religious leadership of Israel at that time had fallen into deep corruption. Jesus exposed this when He said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

They had two choices: repent and admit their guilt before God, or reject the very One who confronted them. Pride and fear of losing power drove them to choose rejection. Jesus explained their motive openly: “They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:5–6). Their hearts were set on status and reputation rather than God.

Misunderstanding the Messiah

Many rabbis insisted the Messiah was supposed to overthrow Rome and establish Israel’s dominance. Even Judas appears to have shared this expectation. He followed Jesus but grew impatient because Jesus was not the warrior-king he envisioned. Instead of political conquest, Jesus offered a spiritual kingdom. He said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

Paul later explained the deeper problem: “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:3–4). The Pharisees wanted a messiah who confirmed their law-keeping, not One who fulfilled the Law and offered grace.

The Prophecies in Isaiah

Much of the dispute centers around the prophecies of Isaiah, especially Isaiah 53. Many rabbis claimed this chapter described Israel as a nation, not the Messiah. Christians, however, recognize that the passage speaks of an innocent individual who suffers willingly for the sins of others.

Isaiah 53:5 declares:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

Notice the pronouns. Isaiah speaks of “he” and “we” together. This cannot apply to Israel, which was sinful and in need of healing. It points to an innocent One who suffers on behalf of the guilty.

The Shift in Rabbinic Teaching

For centuries many rabbis acknowledged that Isaiah 53 referred to the Messiah. Writings before the eleventh century contain this view. But as Christians proclaimed Isaiah 53 as proof of Jesus, later rabbis shifted interpretation. They began teaching that the Suffering Servant was Israel itself. This argument is fragile. Israel is never described as sinless. Israel cannot die for the sins of Israel. Only a righteous One could take that role, and that One is Christ.

It is telling that Isaiah 53 is rarely read in synagogues. To read it aloud raises too many questions.

Blindness Foretold

Isaiah himself foretold this spiritual blindness: “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). Jesus quoted this passage to explain why so many rejected Him (Matthew 13:14–15).

Hardened Hearts

The Pharisees of old were blinded by corruption. Judas was blinded by disappointment. Many rabbis today are blinded by hardened hearts. Paul explains this in Romans 11:25, “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Yet this hardening is not permanent. Paul continues, “And in this way all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). God has not abandoned His people, and even now many Jews are turning to Christ.

Not All Pharisees Rejected Christ

It is important to remember that not all Pharisees were enemies of Christ. Some believed in Him, though quietly. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night seeking truth (John 3:1–2). Joseph of Arimathea, also a council member, did not consent to their plan to kill Jesus and later laid Him in his own tomb (Luke 23:50–53).

After the resurrection, Acts records that “a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). Even some Pharisees believed. Paul himself had been a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) yet became the greatest preacher of Christ to the Gentiles. The fiercest opposition came from the political and religious elite in Jerusalem, who feared losing their authority if Jesus was received as Messiah.

The Apostolic Witness

The apostles taught clearly that Israel’s rejection of Christ fulfilled prophecy. On Pentecost, Peter declared, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death” (Acts 2:23–24). He explained that David foretold Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2:31).

Stephen, before his martyrdom, charged the leaders, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51).

Paul, reasoning in the synagogues, showed that “it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ’” (Acts 17:3). He wrote of his anguish, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2–3).

Jerusalem: The City That Kills the Prophets

Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (Matthew 23:37). This was no exaggeration. Scripture and tradition testify:

– Isaiah was sawn in two under Manasseh

– Zechariah son of Jehoiada was stoned in the temple court (2 Chronicles 24:20–21)

– Jeremiah was persecuted and nearly killed (Jeremiah 26:11)

– John the Baptist was executed by Herod at the request of Jerusalem’s elite (Mark 6:27)

Jerusalem silenced the prophets of God, and in the end, it crucified the Son of God Himself. Jesus even tied this to prophecy when He said, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Matthew 21:42–43).

The Witness of Isaiah 53 in the Apostolic Age

The apostles themselves used Isaiah 53 to preach Christ. In Acts 8 an Ethiopian official was reading Isaiah 53 aloud. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip “opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:34–35).

The early church understood Isaiah 53 as a direct prophecy of Christ. They proclaimed without hesitation that the Suffering Servant was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.

The True Messiah

Jesus fulfills both roles of the Messiah. He first came as the Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He will return as the Lion of Judah, ruling the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). The Jews of His day saw only the Lion and rejected the Lamb. Many today make the same mistake.

Yet the invitation remains. Isaiah wrote, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). The call stands for Jew and Gentile alike. Christ was rejected by many, but for all who believe, He is the cornerstone of eternal life.