Jesus is always a stumbling block! Here is starts out because of what He does, but soon becomes worse because of the testimony of who He is. Unfortunately that reality continues today:
1 Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”
Some Jewish authorities thought that God’s rest on the Sabbath was absolute and continual. Jesus points out that God continues to work, and that He is joining God in that work! He obeys the Father and does His will, but He also claims authority and equality with the Father. The Son has the ability to judge, to grant life, and to raise the dead, both literally and figuratively. Figuratively, those who are willing to listen and believe obtain eternal life. But there is also a literal and real physical resurrection that will happen for those who believe and follow, and doing what is good comes naturally for those who believe.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”
The religious leadership won’t believe because they refuse to accept both the testimony of John the Baptist and the Scriptures themselves! The law reveals that we are sinners. The sacrificial system points to our need for a Savior. The prophets predict the coming Messiah. All of Scripture points to Jesus, but they refuse to believe, so they stand condemned.
By the way, there is one specific verse from Moses that the religious leadership believed pointed to the Messiah. Deuteronomy 18:15 says, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.” We must listen!
For worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ4-8WZOjlY
Pastor Billington's Blog 