What did the Jews of Christ's day want instead of dealing with their sin?
They wanted the King and the Kingdom—a glorious kingdom with peace and prosperity—and they wanted the Romans out of Jerusalem. They rejected the Savior because accepting Him meant confronting their sin, which they refused to do. That was their preference at Christ’s first coming.
Les explains that Israel was presented with two prospects: the promise of a King and a Kingdom, a glorious Kingdom ruled by the Son of God, and the need for a Savior from sin. At Christ’s first coming, they wanted the King and Kingdom, but they did not want the Savior, because that would require dealing with their sin. They also wanted the Romans out of Jerusalem and the peace and prosperity a Messiah would bring. Les compares this to the world today: people want a utopian kingdom, peace, and prosperity, but they do not want to deal with sin. He illustrates this with a caller who was wrapped up in sin yet expected the Lord to straighten it all out, and he insists that sin is sin and cannot be glossed over. The Jews of Christ’s day were the same way.