Why was it a good thing that Israel did not recognize Jesus at His first advent?
It was good because Israel rejected Christ in ignorance. Had they known who He was and still rejected Him, God would have had to destroy the nation, leaving no excuse. Their ignorance allowed Christ and Stephen to ask forgiveness, showing mercy rather than national destruction.
Les explains that Stephen was driving home the point in Acts 7 that during Christ’s first advent Israel did not know who He was. As far as Israel was concerned, Les says, it was a good thing they did not recognize Him. If they had rejected Him knowing who He was, God would have had to destroy the nation; there would have been no excuse. But because of their ignorance, Christ could say from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and Stephen could later say the same at his stoning. Les connects this to the Old Testament economy, illustrating that a farmer who unknowingly killed someone with a thrown stone was in total ignorance.