Jews universally reject Christ as Messiah. Some are "ethnic" only, often Atheist, and as so being also reject Christ as Messiah, others are religious and reject Christ as Messiah.
Christ was very specific on *why* they reject Him and His words. They do not accept or understand His words because of who their Father is. He didn't leave it up to you or me to guess. He said it plainly.
Actually "Israel" is the 12 tribes, only 1 of which is Judah. So the descendants of Judah are Israelites, but there are 11 more. Just because they are part of the dispersal and aren't seen as Israelites doesn't mean they aren't.
You ever why modern "Jews" steal the name of the northern brothers they were at odds with? Israel (northern kingdom in modern Palestine), JUDEA (southern kingdom in modern Palestine). Israel, their northern brothers, were dispersed over the earth. That doesn't make them less Israelites. In fact, those who accept Christ/His teachings are arguably the true Israelites.
I want to say before going further, that this is my understanding of Scripture, and others also, but it is not universally accepted in the Church.
That is correct, Jesus didn't leave it up to us to guess, as He said plainly that those who He was speaking to were children of the devil. But Jesus was the God/Man, who knew all men. (John 2:24) "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them,
because he knew all men." This is knowledge that only God has. Just like with Judas, Christ always knew who he was. (John 17:12) (John 6:64). Which must have been galling to Christ during His ministry on earth.
Christ's use of the phrase 'of the devil' speaks to origin. The persons origin. And only He would know that. It's not the persons acts that determine their origin. In other words, it is often believed and said of Christians that we were once 'children of the devil' but are now 'children of God'. In this I disagree. The believer, whether in Israel or the Church, or even those believers between Adam and Moses, were never 'children of the devil'. We were all, as believers, children of wrath, (Eph. 2:1-3), and walked in step with the devil, but were not 'of the devil'.
My point being: Jesus was talking to those who He knew were of the devil. But that doesn't mean all of Israel or Jews are of the devil, as I showed earlier that Nicodemus and Paul were Pharisees yet later believed and were saved. See post #(5).
John goes on to say, and it's interesting that John really centers on this subject of 'origin', that the same is true with the believer. He believes because he is 'of God'. John's term in (Jn. 3:3) is not 'born again'. It is 'born from above'. So unless ones origin is correct, of God, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. Because he is 'of God' he believes and is then born again, and enters the kingdom. (Jn. 3:5) Also, (Jn. 8:47).
I agree that Israel is made up of all 12 tribes. But today, and even in Paul's day, they were known as Jews, or Israelites. Yes, those Jews, Israelites, who accept Christ make up the true Israel of God. (Gal. 6:16) But today they are located in the Church, as the Remnant. (Rom. 9:27) (Rom. 11:4-5) They are not part of national Israel. Much more can be said but I think you get my point here.
My opinion.
Lees