I thought an excellent topic for Apologetics is how to counter the reason the Jews reject Jesus. Form
SIX REASONS WHY JEWS DON'T BELIEVE IN JESUS:
Reason #1 – The Messiah must be from the Tribe of Judah and a Descendant of King David AND King Solomon – Jesus did not qualify.
John 3:12
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you
of heavenly things?
Matthew 22
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Reason #2 – Ingathering of the Jewish Exiles – Jesus did not do this.
Israel is the community of God, the faithful, not, as the Pharisees believed, a political or geneological nation, but a spiritual nation.
Reason #3– Rebuilding of the Holy Temple – Jesus failed to achieve this.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
God lives in you, God has always lived in you. Or perhaps one may say, that you are an aspect of God. Mankind is the temple of God.
Reason #4– Worldwide Reign of Peace – Jesus did not accomplish this.
Jesus was condemned for all the sins of mankind and rose from hell to heaven. Thus Jesus has ended all wars. The final result of mankind's toils is peace.
Reason #5 – Observance of the Torah Embraced by All Jews – Jesus didn’t bring this about.
Mark 12
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Reason #6 – Universal Knowledge of G-d – Jesus clearly failed here also.
John 10
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.