Jesus and the Jews

When Jesus began his ministry, he encountered much resistance. As the announced Kingdom of God was based on principles that were not generally accepted at that time, Jesus had to lay a new foundation on which the new covenant and everything associated with it would be based. Even today, the view of Israel, on which much of the Christian community bases itself, is greatly influenced by Jewish thinking. Israel and the Jews are said to play a pivotal role in God's plan of salvation. The question is whether this emphasis on Israel is supported by the Bible as a whole and, in particular, the New Testament. This view is examined in detail based on the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of John and the teachings in the First Epistle of John. The author aims to demonstrate that this view of Israel is not supported by the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. By focusing primarily on the spiritual nature of the Kingdom of God, the author seeks to demonstrate that a physical Israel has no place in the present age. The descendants of Abraham are those who believe in Christ.