The Jewish leaders, Scribes & Pharisees saw Jesus Christ as an enemy. They were hypocrites, because they were religious outwardly but their hearts were darkened, as Jesus said. They thought they were special and believed following laws made them holy and they looked down on others for not following all the Jewish laws. They were absolutely wrong.
Jesus came from a Jewish bloodline, that's true. That why it’s said salvation comes from the Jews, not because of those who practiced the Jewish religion. Not because of Jewish men, but only because of Christ himself being born a Jew.
In John chapter 4 Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman at a well and asked her for a drink. Jews looked down on Samaritans, even the woman knew that and asked Jesus why he should talk with her. He explained that even though salvation came from the Jews (because of his bloodline), he came so everyone could know God in spirit and in truth.
Jesus was saying bloodline has nothing to do with it. Religion has nothing to do with it. Jesus tells her God comes to us all in spirit and truth. God comes to us through Jesus Christ and enters into our hearts. It’s not an intellectual thing, it's not a religious thing, it’s a change of heart.
The Jewish leaders crucified Christ. They didn’t want him because they were blinded by religion. They prided themselves for knowing scriptures and practicing religious traditions and following Jewish laws. The only way they could accept what Christ Jesus was saying is to admit they were hypocrites, and they were not willing to do that. That was too humiliating for them to accept, because it would mean all their religious works were in vain and that they were no better than anyone else. They were outraged and had him crucified.
As for being cryptic, Jesus said even a child can understand him. Because children are innocent and have no pretense. Jesus' message is simple. The reason it sounds cryptic to us adults is because our minds are so conditioned with the junk and lies and religion we’ve been brainwashed with our whole lives. Jesus talks plainly and only when we hear him with our hearts can we understand. God talks to each of our hearts personally, not as a group. Each individual is precious in his sight.
Ya know, Jesus said there are only 2 commandments to follow: love God and treat others the way we want to be treated. That's it! Everything hangs on that. And he comes to each of us and gives us his spirit so that we might have the power to do just that. He gives us a new mind, one that loves one another and wants the best for each other. And he gives us a heart to know him intimately.
Christianity has gotten a bad name because so many still following laws and traditions and thinking that’s what makes them holy. I’m with you when you say hypocrisy is sickening, because it is. Nobody is better than anyone else in God’s eyes. We all need the Lord to help us to see the truth.
The Samaritan woman at the well said to Jesus, “I know the Messiah called Christ is coming someday. And when he does, he will explain everything to us.” And Jesus replied, “He is speaking to you right now.”
And many of the people of her town believed in Jesus because of that woman’s testimony. She said, "Come see this man who told me everything about me!” Because Jesus had seen right into her heart. And when her neighbors came to see him they proclaimed, “Now we believe him because we heard him for ourselves.” Because Jesus speaks to each of us personally. He gets right to the heart of the matter for all of us.
And the Samaritan community asked Jesus to stay with them a few days and he did.
Because of that Samaritan woman, the gospel of Jesus Christ was spread. Even Jesus’ Jewish disciples were perplexed about Jesus speaking to a Samaritan, but they were too afraid to question him. They had not yet understood that there is no Jew or Gentile with Christ. All people are loved and accepted by God individually.
