The Evil Return of Antisemitism, Part 7

The Evil Return of Antisemitism, Part 7
Monday, April 28, 2025 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Apologetics / Contemporary issues / Scripture discussion / The church / Thought for Today

Where does antisemitism come from? Why is it so persistent? Why doe sit never seem to go away?

The answer is found in the biblical realm of the Spirit, not in or through psychological theories.

Jesus provides the underlying reasons for the never-ending hatred of the Jews. What does he say?

John 4:21–22 (NAU): “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.’”

John 14:5–6 (NAU): “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ 6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”

Those are both polarizing statements. First, Jesus states that salvation is through the Jews, and second, that He is the only way of salvation.

We sometimes overlook or forget the obvious. It is all too easy to think of Jesus in our own nationalistic terms, whatever “our own” may be. The truth remains that Jesus is Jewish. We follow a Jewish Messiah. In the U.S., minorities often accuse Christianity of being a “white man’s” religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is Jesus Jewish, but the church was established in Africa before it was established in Europe. Had not Islam wiped almost all of the African church out, who knows what place of prominence, the African church might have had to this day.

In addition, there is no other means of salvation than Jesus Christ. None. As we will see, that has all sorts of ramifications.

Who is the god of this world? Satan. As 1 John 5:18 tells us, the whole world lies under the power and the control of the evil one. Although Jesus has defeated him, Satan is not yet removed from his control of this world. As Scripture tells us, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

What is Satan like? Jesus describes him as a liar and a murderer, that when he lies, he speaks his native language, that he is the father of lies and that there is no truth in him. We see that in the very first conversation, at the beginning of Genesis 3, where Satan tells a lie. We see him self-focused, envying God, seeling to usurp his place in his five “I wills” of Isaiah 14:13–14. Although a slight inference, he persuades one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion.

We know that through his death and resurrection, Jesus defeated Satan. We know that Satan’s destiny is the lake of fire. Since Jesus who defeated him is Jewish, doesn’t it make sense that Satan hates the Jews? Since Christians are no longer under his domain, it makes sense that Satan hates Christians as well. Thus, we should not be surprised at Islam’s attitude towards both groups, their cursing, and Allah’s hatred. Biblically, there is no doubt that Satan is at war with Christians and Jews, and we are at war with him. We see that battle culminate in Armageddon and briefly renewed at the very end of the age.

Until Christ returns, we can expect antisemitism to increase. The more our world listens to and follows after Satan’s lies, the more the hatred of Jews (and Christians) will increase.

The good news is that the Jews have a glorious future ahead of them.

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