Jesus first came to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). The Jews had the benefit of the Law to lead them to Christ (Galatians 3:24). They saw the miracles and heard His teaching. Yet the majority rejected Him. Why? Peter explained by quoting the prophet Isaiah. Jesus was rejected because He was “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (1 Peter 2:8). Let us notice some of the reasons why Jesus was to the Jewish people “a stone of stumbling.”
They rejected Jesus because they were disobedient – In the next part of the verse above, Peter explained, “For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word” (1 Peter 2:8). Habits are hard to break. Repentance is a difficult command to obey. Some would rather continue in disobedience than repent, despite the rewards for obedience. Jesus said, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). Humans are proud creatures. To repent is to admit being wrong and many do not want to do this. They want to continue their sinful life and are offended at Jesus’ call to repent and obey (Luke 13:3; Matthew 7:21-23).
Some rejected Christ because they held to the commands and traditions of men – Jesus confronted the Pharisees and scribes about this. They questioned why Jesus’ disciples “break the tradition of the elders” (Matthew 15:2). Jesus turned and asked them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3). Some hold the teachings of men to the same level as the teachings of God (Matthew 15:2). The danger then is to worsen the problem by holding the teachings of men in a higher regard than God’s word (Matthew 15:3). The point that Jesus made was that we cannot serve God acceptably if we bind the traditions or commands of men upon others (Matthew 15:9). While many hate to admit they are wrong, many also do not want to admit wrong on the part of those whom they admire or follow. However, if we are unwilling to do this, we are placing too much confidence in men. Our faith must “not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5). To obey Christ, we are going to have to go against what others are doing (Romans 12:2). Those who hold to the commands and traditions of men will stumble because of Christ.
Others stumbled at the “hard sayings” of Jesus – John recorded the occasion when Jesus taught the multitude to eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:48-58). The people thought this was a “hard saying” (John 6:60, KJV) and Jesus knew that it caused them to stumble (John 6:61). What is it about a teaching that makes it a hard saying? First, it may be difficult to understand. These people initially misunderstood Jesus, thinking He was talking about literal flesh and blood (John 6:52). Another reason why a teaching may be a hard saying is that it is difficult to accept. Jesus explained His teaching to these people in order to clear up their confusion (John 6:63). His point was that to follow Him would require a total devotion to Him and to His word. This is difficult. There must first be a willing heart (John 7:17) before one will allow himself to understand and accept the hard sayings of Christ. If one is unwilling to do this, he will stumble because of Christ.
They rejected Jesus because He was not what they expected – Matthew described Jesus’ return to His hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-58). These people were already, at least to some degree, familiar with Jesus. They even knew His family. They now had a chance to hear Him upon His return. Yet they rejected Him. Why? They saw Him only as “the carpenter’s son,” the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). They expected Him to be one thing (the carpenter’s son), instead He was something else (God’s Son). This was the reason why “they took offense at Him” (Matthew 13:57).
What About Today?
Does Jesus offend people today and cause them to stumble like He did when He walked on the earth? Yes, He does. He does so through the teaching of the gospel. Jesus told His disciples, “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent me” (Luke 10:16). To reject one bringing the message of Christ is tantamount to rejecting Christ and, consequently, the Father.
The reasons the Jews rejected Christ are the same reasons why men reject Him and His word today. Some want to be disobedient and continue living in sin. Some want to hold on to the teachings of men. Some reject the hard sayings because they are unwilling to study in order to learn or are unwilling to apply what they learn. Some have a different picture of Christ than what the Bible presents.
Many today cringe at the thought of preaching that is “offensive” and that drives people away. Yet this is what we see in Jesus. He offended people (Matthew 15:12). He drove people away (John 6:66). Obviously, we should not try to offend people, but we must teach “the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). If people are offended at the truth, they are not rejecting us, but Christ (Luke 10:16). Mankind has not changed much in two thousand years. People still stumble because of Christ. We should be less concerned with how people might react and more concerned with following the example of our Lord.
While many will reject Christ, those who will accept Him “shall not be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6, ASV). Let us not be offended and stumble because of Christ. Instead, let us accept Him and His way so that we might live in a way that is pleasing to Him.
