The Jews were probably asking themselves, "what? Where?"

Many times I've heard people say that the Ancient Jews were so well versed in Scripture. Yet, from reading the Gospels, I think they were probably asking themselves, "What? Where?" when Jesus said:
John 5:
39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Unless Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, as He did the Apostles, they could not make the connections between the Old Testament Suffering Servant and the Messiah.

So, in a way, I feel sorry for them. Not all, but many, probably most of them, were sincerely following their faith. Then this guy shows up, performing miracles, doing signs and claiming He is God. But what does Scripture say to do with guys like that?

Deuteronomy 13

1If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, ....
5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death;....

And that is what they did. They put Him to death on the Cross.

It is interesting to consider that this was part of God's plan from the beginning.

God said, "When a man comes to you, proclaiming a God that you don't recognize, you must put him to death."

Then, God came as a man and they did not recognize Him and they put Him to death. Here's the rub:

Hebrews 9:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

God is the Testator of the Old Testament.
God had to die in order for the Old Testament promises to come into effect. In other words, the Old Testament Jews could not walk into the promised land until God died.

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.


They could not enter the promised land. They could not enter heaven, until God died upon the Cross. It was all part of God's plan.

John 11:49-51
King James Version (KJV)
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

And they put Him to death in accordance with God's plan and He led their forefathers out of captivity.