There was a lot going on at the time. Imagine this guy shows up- basically the arch-heretic for your religion, he tells you the temple, which your religion is structured around, is going bye-bye because you're a faggot. You laugh it off because he's evil; "his blood will be on our hands and the hands of our children, etc." The romans are an oppressive occupying force, but no big deal- you guys have dealt with this before, and g-d always steps in and frees you via divine interventionas long as you pinkie-promise to do better for real this time.
So you decide, eventually, you've had enough. You're sick of the Romans, you figure, what the hell, g-d's on our side. You pick the fight, and you get your ass handed to you. Not only that the temple was completely razed, just like mr. Arch heretic said. Not only did g-d not give you a hand in this one, he completely abandoned you. You *were* "g-d's chosen", and he fucking hates you now.

Not at all saying they deserve sympathy, not even close. But just imagine what that would have to feel like.