27.0 The Chosen People
March 2008
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Ever since Cain killed Abel, the believers in the true God have been called out to be separate from the world. Thus we find Seth and his descendants, Noah and his family, Abraham and his descendants as being called out, chosen, covenant people.
To Abraham was given the everlasting covenant which would extend in a special way to Isaac and Jacob (Israel). When Israel became a nation they were identified as the “chosen people” of God. “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
Great blessings were promised. They were to be “above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” “Before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth” (Exodus 34:10). “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them” (Deuteronomy 28:13).
Greater even than the blessings above is the promise that through the seed of Abraham the Messiah would come. The Redeemer was foretold first to Adam and Eve when God said, “it (her seed) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).
In Jacob’s last blessing to Judah, he prophesied: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10). God even spoke through the false prophet, Balaam: “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).
After repeated lapses into apostasy and idolatry, God permitted first the northern kingdom, Israel, and then the southern kingdom, Judah, to go into captivity. The purpose of God to reach the world through Israel could not take place because of these apostasies, and because of the persistent “old covenant mentality” that governed Jewish life and worship.
There is a time beyond which even the long suffering God will not wait. Daniel 9:24-27 announced a probationary time of 490 years after the restoration from captivity, during which Israel must accomplish its allotted work. Sixty nine weeks (483 years) from the rebuilding of Jerusalem would bring them to the ministry of “Messiah the Prince.” In that final week (seven years), He would:
“confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” (Daniel 9:27).
“Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
The most important event in all the history of mankind took place that day on Calvary. The covenant of God had been confirmed and ratified. The ceremonies, the sacrifices, and many of the feasts had now been fulfilled and had no more meaning. The worship forms for the previous 1500 years were now to be changed.
Ceremonies were now replaced by faith in the reality of the Son of God. To continue these ceremonies showed a misunderstanding of their purpose to point forward to the Messiah. Further to depend on these ceremonies was a denial of the atonement provided by Jesus Christ in His sacrifice on Calvary. The meaningless round of ceremonies was a continuing problem with the nation of Israel and some of the Jewish Christians until the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70.
What did this change in the ceremonial law mean to the nation of Israel? The direction of the life of the Jews as individuals and as a nation hung in the balance. Would they recognize and accept their Messiah?
Unfortunately, in His life on earth, Jesus was rejected by the leaders of the Jews. He did not meet their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah would be like. Among the common people were many who thronged about Him because of His teaching and healing. Only a few of these understood His mission as the Messiah. Only a few understood that He was the “Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
His rejection began early. When Jesus came as a baby to Bethlehem the leaders in Jerusalem were bypassed and the announcement made to shepherds at night. This was not a secret occurrence. The shepherds if anything were vocal in spreading “the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:17-18 NIV).
When He was eight days old, He was circumcised and given His name, “Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). His parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem for His dedication and to offer sacrifice. He was met there by Simeon and Anna, who recognized Him as the Messiah, and prophesied. None of the leaders were present, and even the priest who conducted the ceremonies remains unnamed.
It appears that Joseph and Mary found a house in Bethlehem. Some time later a caravan of wealthy and important “wise” men arrived in Jerusalem. They went straight to the top, enquiring of Herod, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). Herod immediately assembled the people, the scribes and the priests and demanded of them where the Messiah would be born. In Micah 5:2 was found the prophecy that He would be born in Bethlehem.
Don’t you think that the leaders should have finally taken note that something important was happening in Bethlehem? Apparently they nursed their envy and refused to investigate. The wise men made their visit, gave the infant Jesus the honor that was His due. The gifts they left were sufficient to support the little family in Egypt for their extended stay.
Next we hear of the twelve year old boy visiting the Temple in Jerusalem. He was found “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46). Hadn’t these men heard of the events in Bethlehem at His birth? Didn’t they have any interest in the truth He brought to their ears that day in the Temple? What more could God do to awaken the nation?
Then there was the remarkable testimony of John the Baptist. People from all over the nation thronged to hear him. When he saw Jesus appear, he proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). After Jesus’ baptism, He was anointed by the Holy Spirit in the body of a dove (John 1:32), and a voice cried from heaven, “ This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16, 17).
These were public manifestations as was His ministry of teaching, healing, and marvelous works. If a man had faith in the Messiah promised through the sacrifices, if he worshiped God in Spirit and in truth, if he were sensitive to the still small voice of God – he would have recognized Who Jesus was, “the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Many people did just that. The common people heard Him gladly!
But to the leaders, what He said was not “politically correct.” He was poor and from a poor background from an obscure village. He had not been schooled by the Rabbis. He was not a revolutionary and showed no interest in throwing the Romans out. His teachings were in direct opposition to the teachings of the Pharisees in many areas. And worst of all, the people loved Him!
They demanded a sign. Jesus refused. He was willing to give evidence, but He required their worship on the basis of “Spirit and truth,” and this He gave them. Finally, He resurrected Lazarus in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem. Lazarus was His friend. Also it was an illustration before Calvary of Jesus’ power over death, a proof of His Divinity. It was public. Many Jews witnessed the event. There was absolutely no doubt that Lazarus had been dead and he was now certainly alive. They had their sign.
“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
Jesus’ assessment as stated here turned out to be all too true. Lazarus’ resurrection offended the Sadducees who now united with the Pharisees in plotting Jesus’ death (John 11:53). Incredibly, they also planned how they might also put Lazarus to death (John 12:10), proving their malice and unbelief.
What is the status of the Jews now? It is worth looking into this, as this affected the Christian church for many years. First we have the words of Jesus Himself. In the parable of the vineyard, the lord of the vineyard sent servants and eventually the son to collect his fruits. The husbandmen beat, stoned, and slew the servants, and eventually slew the son also. What would the lord of the vineyard do? The onlookers answered, “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. . . . Therefore say I unto you (chief priests and Pharisees), The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:41-43).
After Jesus’ denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23, Jesus ends with a lament over Jerusalem. So much had been invested in God’s chosen people. What more could God do? They had responded with persistent and increasing hostility and malice to the very Son of God, Himself. He finally declared, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. . . . And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple” (Matthew 23:38; 24:1) for the last time. Shortly thereafter came the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.
On the day of the crucifixion, at the ninth hour, Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” His faith was severely tested, but He held on and was finally able to say, “It is finished.” This was followed by a mysterious darkness and Jesus cried again with a loud voice, “Into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). His faith had held, Jesus won the victory. The sacrifice for all men had been made. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matthew 27:51).
The rejection of Jesus by the Jews was persistent and deep and by the official body of the Jewish nation. Even after the resurrection they tried to hide the resurrection story with lies. But, other things were happening. The weak, fickle, quarreling apostles were now united, fearless, and seemed imbued with all the power Jesus had. Every effort was made to stop their preaching, without success.
7 “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
One more event must occur. One more milestone must be passed. The early Christian church in Jerusalem was a totally committed church. Material values were put aside. Members willingly sold what they had and pooled their resources, supporting those who were poor and needy in their midst (Acts 4:32-37). In this setting, there were widows of “Greek Jews” who felt they were left out in the distribution of the available help.
“Serving tables” was getting to be a burden, so the twelve apostles called a meeting and appointed “seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” (Acts 6:3) to take care of this business. One of these was “Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” Stephen was an enthusiastic Christian, naturally brilliant and probably educated. His ordination as a deacon was an open door to ministry.
8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:8-10).
False witnesses were produced and he was brought before the Sanhedrin, accused of blasphemy. The High Priest asked him one question, “Are these things so?” Stephen immediately began his defense as a sermon to the Sanhedrin. They listened willingly until Stephen pointed out that the Temple on earth is merely a type of the reality in Heaven.
This enraged the Sanhedrin. Stephen abruptly terminated the sermon and confronted them with:
51 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 “Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it” (Acts 7:51-53).
He was dragged out of the city and stoned to death. This was the culminating event of rejection by the official governing body of the nation of Israel. From this point the Jewish leadership intensified their persecution. The Christians were scattered and “went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). This was also the exact date of the end of the 490 year prophecy. Probation for Israel as the chosen people of God was ended. The promises and responsibilities of the everlasting covenant would be passed to another.
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