Why did Jesus say salvation is of the Jews? Let’s see what the Bible has to say in answer to your question.
“Jesus said to the woman in Samaria, You worship what you do not know;
we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews (John 4:22).”
The Samaritans
The Samaritans were a part Jewish but mixed-race people group who lived in Palestine in Jesus’ time. Their region was between the Jewish-dominated Judea to the south and Jewish Galilee to the north. Their western border was the Mediterranean Sea, and the Jordan River was their eastern border. So, when a Jew from Galilee wanted to travel to Jerusalem in Judea, they had to go through Samaria unless they crossed to the east side of the Jordan River.
Worshiping what they don’t know
They had their own temple
When Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, they took many native Jews to Babylon. They resettled the defeated land with non-Jewish people who intermarried with the remaining Jews. These people developed a syncretistic religion, part Jewish and part other. They became the Samaritans who even built their own temple. In John 4:22, quoted above, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that they worship what they do not know in their temple.
They had their own mountain
“The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father (John 4:19-21).”
I was in a church when a missionary, raising support, gave a sermon. He said the temple on Mount Gerizim was as valid for worship as Jerusalem’s. John 4:22 rejects his teaching.
Believers in Jesus know who we worship
Jesus came through the Jews
But we who Name Jesus know who we worship. The scriptures came through the Jews, and the Savior also did. The Apostle Paul tells us how we know who we worship:
“Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen (Romans 9:4-5).”
Jesus was a stumbling block to the Jews
He came to save His people (the Jews) from their sins. But they stumbled over Him: “He came to His own (the Jews), and those who were His own did not receive Him (John 1:11).”
“I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous (Romans 11:11).”
Jesus is the new temple
There is no other way to God except through Jesus, who is the new temple for worship: So, why did Jesus say salvation is of the Jews?
“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this ]temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body (John 2:19-21).”
Jesus is now the temple, and we worship the Father through Him (John 4:21):
Jesus sanctifies us once forever
“By this will (the Father’s) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).”
“But the woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He (John 4:25-26).”
