Ep. 177. Jeremiah 3-4 | If You Return, O Israel

EPISODE 177

IF YOU RETURN OH ISRAEL: JEREMIAH 3-4

It isn't surprising to us that the Jews missed who Jesus truly was. First, if they had understood who he was, they would not have crucified him, and salvation would not be available to the world. Second, they were looking for an earthly King who would restore Israel to a unified nation and a powerhouse of blessing on the earth. Consider the third chapter of Jeremiah today, "I am your master. I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds. Jerusalem will be called the throne of the Lord. All the nations will gather to it. Judah and Israel will join together again into one nation." The Israelites interpreted these kinds of statements as rebuilding the Jewish Monarchy in the line of David. We must remember that the Sadducees in Jesus' day did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits. That means a large part of the Jewish people did not have a view of a spiritual life, a heavenly Jerusalem, or a resurrected people. Most Jews just longed for a day in which they would have peace, power, and glory again, like in the days of David.

You and I can read these verses here, and in many other places in the Scripture, and see how Christ is the fulfillment of them. We can see, and appreciate, the spiritual truth of these prophesies where the Jewish people missed them over and over again. It's easy for us who know the rest of the story of Jesus to go back to Jeremiah and see Christ there. But for those who could not see beyond a physical earthly kingdom, it makes sense why they missed the person and work of Jesus.

ADDITIONAL READING: Romans 8:1; Jeremiah 9:25; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 16:19; Genesis 1:2