Final answer:
Jesus' ministry included practices such as inclusivity with social outcasts, teaching of love and forgiveness, performing miracles, and predictions of his death and resurrection, which contrasted with Jewish messianic expectations of political liberation and were considered scandalous (skandalon) within Jewish theology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The elements of Jesus' ministry that were skandalon areas for Jewish theology include his inclusion and fellowship with those outside of traditional Jewish circles, his teachings on love and forgiveness, his miracle-working, and his predictions of his own death and resurrection. These practices contrasted with mainstream Jewish expectations of the messiah as a political liberator and a figure who would re-establish a worldly kingdom for Israel free from Roman control. Instead, Jesus emphasized a spiritual salvation and the concept of a spiritual kingdom, which went beyond the immediate political concerns of the day.
Jesus' inclusivity, where he dined with social outcasts and preached to Gentiles, broke away from the social norms and religious exclusivity of his time, which was a strong point of contention. His focus on forgiveness and love also challenged the prevalent ideas of strict legalism and retributive justice that were common in the Jewish religion. Moreover, the concept of a messiah suffering and dying was contrary to the Jewish expectation of a triumphant, earthly messianic reign. Early Christians eventually came to understand Jesus's death and resurrection as the means to achieving spiritual liberation and the fulfillment of a divine plan rather than a traditional military or political victory.