Did Israel recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah when He came?
No. The nation of Israel failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah at His coming. Though they should have known who He was, they had no idea. A few individuals did recognize Him, but the nation as a whole never understood.
Les explains that Israel’s failure parallels Joseph’s brothers, who did not recognize Joseph when they first came to him for grain. Joseph even seated them by age at a banquet, which amazed them, yet they still did not know who he was. Likewise, when Jesus came, the people should have known He was the promised Messiah, but they did not; only a few did, while the nation as a whole never understood. Les connects this to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:7 about the hidden wisdom of God ordained before the world.