Jesus’ Identity: What Did the Jews Think?

Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for "Jesus’ Identity - Jesus in the eyes of the Jews". Don't worry, this topic isn't as complicated as it might sound. We're going to explore how different Jewish people and groups viewed Jesus during his ministry. Think of it like being a detective, gathering clues from different witnesses to piece together a picture.

Understanding these different perspectives is super important because it helps us see why Jesus received such mixed reactions – from praise and adoration to suspicion and outright hatred. Let's dive in!


The View from the Top: Religious Leaders (Teachers of the Law)

First up, let's look at the "Teachers of the Law" (also known as Scribes). These were the religious experts of the day. They knew the Jewish scriptures inside and out and held a lot of authority.

Accusation: Using the Power of Beelzebub

When the Teachers of the Law saw Jesus performing incredible miracles, like casting out demons, they didn't celebrate. Instead, they got suspicious and hostile. Their conclusion was shocking.

According to the Gospel of Mark (Mk. 3:20-22), they accused Jesus by saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”

  • Beelzebub is another name for the devil or a powerful demon.
  • So, they were basically saying: "Yes, Jesus has power, but it's not from God. It's from the Devil!"

Analogy Time! Imagine a student who has never done well in PE suddenly scores the winning goal in a football match. Instead of being happy for them, a jealous rival spreads a rumour that they must have cheated or used some unfair trick. The Teachers of the Law were doing the same thing – they couldn't deny Jesus' power, so they tried to discredit the source.

Why were they so hostile?

They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority. He challenged their interpretations of the law and was becoming more popular with the people than they were. Their accusation was a desperate attempt to turn the public against him.

Key Takeaway: The religious leaders viewed Jesus as a dangerous rival whose power came from an evil source, not from God.


"Isn't this the Carpenter?" - The View from His Hometown

Next, let's travel to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. You'd think they'd be his biggest fans, right? Well, not exactly.

Reaction: Rejection at Nazareth

When Jesus returned to Nazareth and taught in the synagogue, the local people were stunned by his wisdom (Mk. 6:1-4). But their amazement quickly turned to skepticism.

They said things like:

  • "Where did this man get these things?"
  • "Isn't this the carpenter?"
  • "Isn't this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?"

They couldn't accept his "higher status" because he was too familiar. They knew him as the local handyman, not a divine messenger. Their familiarity blinded them to who he truly was.

Real-World Connection: Imagine your older sibling, who you've always known and maybe even argued with, suddenly becomes the CEO of a huge company. You might find it hard to see them as a powerful boss because you still remember them as the person who used to leave their wet towels on the floor! This is called "familiarity breeding contempt."

Common Mistake to Avoid

Don't think the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus because he was a bad teacher. The Bible says they were "amazed" at his teaching! They rejected him because they could not reconcile the extraordinary teacher with the ordinary boy they had watched grow up.

Key Takeaway: The people of Nazareth were skeptical of Jesus. They saw him as just an ordinary local man, the carpenter, and refused to accept his claims to special authority.


A Haunted King: The View from Herod Antipas

Now let's look at a political figure: Herod Antipas. He was the ruler of the Galilee region where Jesus did most of his ministry.

Reaction: A Guilty Conscience

Herod had a dark secret: he had recently ordered the execution of the popular prophet, John the Baptist. When news of Jesus' miracles and teachings reached Herod's palace, he didn't react with religious insight. He reacted with fear and superstition (Mk. 6:14-16).

His immediate thought was: "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

Herod's view wasn't based on a careful study of Jesus' message. It was a projection of his own guilty conscience. He thought Jesus was literally the ghost of John the Baptist, back for revenge.

Did you know?

This shows that Jesus' fame wasn't just among the poor and common people. His name was being discussed in the highest circles of power, even if they completely misunderstood who he was!

Key Takeaway: Herod Antipas saw Jesus through a lens of guilt and superstition, mistakenly believing he was the resurrected John the Baptist.


A Prophet Among Us: The View of the General Public

So, what did the average person in the street think? The crowds who followed Jesus had a much more positive view, even if it was still incomplete.

Reaction: A Great Man of God

Most people respected Jesus and saw him as a powerful figure sent from God. They gave him titles of honour:

  • Rabbi / Teacher: This was the most common view. People saw Jesus as a wise and charismatic teacher (rabbi). They were captivated by his parables and his authoritative way of speaking (Mt. 23:8-10). This was a title of high respect.

  • A Prophet: This was an even higher compliment. It meant they believed he was a true messenger from God, like the great prophets from the Old Testament. They compared him to the best of the best:
    • Some said he was John the Baptist.
    • Others thought he was Elijah (a very famous prophet who, according to tradition, would return before the final salvation).
    • Still others said he was "one of the prophets."

By calling Jesus a prophet, they were acknowledging that he had divine power and spoke for God. It was a very positive assessment!

Quick Review Box

Let's simplify the public's views:

Rabbi/Teacher = A wise man with great teachings.
Prophet = A holy man sent by God with a powerful message.

This shows they held him in very high regard, but they didn't quite see the full picture yet.

Key Takeaway: The general public saw Jesus in a very positive light, viewing him as a great teacher (Rabbi) or even a powerful prophet in the tradition of Elijah. However, they still saw him primarily as a great human messenger from God.