The common (and liberal) explanation of John’s term “the Jews” (which he used 64 times in his Gospel) is often twisted to mean that John favored ill treatment of the Jewish people!

That’s not right!

By “the Jews” … John does NOT mean the common men or women living in Israel. The seemingly often pejorative expression has reference to the Jews who were leaders of their people, the Pharisees, Sadducees and their cronies.

John, neither the Disciple/Apostle nor the Gospel is NOT anti-Semitic! In fact, he is a Jew, a son of Zebedee the fisherman.

But John has written for us an honest Gospel. And the religious leaders among Israel did hate the Lord Jesus Christ!

They were also blind, spiritually, and Jesus tells them so! “Woe unto you, ye blind guides.” Matthew 23:16

For example …

In John 1:19 they had no idea as to the identity of John the Baptist! But Isaiah 40 (Scripture they should have mastered) clearly identifies him as our Lord’s Forerunner!

In John 1:26, Jesus was standing in the midst of a crowd where John was baptizing, and they (the Jewish leaders) had no absolutely knowledge of His Presence!

In John 3:10 Jesus was appalled at the ignorance of one of the Jews’ pristine leaders, Nicodemus! “Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master (teacher) of Israel, and knowest not these things?”

Again and again we see this (is it willful?) refusal to accept Jesus at His Word.

Eventually they call our Lord an illegitimate Son! See John 8:41 for Bible proof.

Then they later said that He had a devil, John 10:20. Blaspheming the very Son of God! “Many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”

Yes, the leaders of Israel at that time were spiritually dead. But multitudes (including Jews) believed on His Name and were “saved.”

Is John anti-Jewish? No, no, no!

Is he truthful? Yes indeed!

Will there continue to be Jews saved by the Grace of God?

Yes, both now and even in the Tribulation!

Paul even teaches us … “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:26, referring to the little remnant of Israelites left on earth at the end of the Tribulation when Jesus physically, bodily returns to earth!

The Bible is very pro-Jewish!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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