We can read every book that has been written on the subject of ‘rejection’ and still not understand its meaning until we have tasted it.
In my early childhood I held the belief that ‘sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.’ However, my experience of rejection over a number of years, at the hands of my peers at school, changed that belief. Years of rejection wounded my heart, made me defensive to criticism, conditioned me to be a loner, killed my confidence, and left me emotionally fragile.
I have learnt through painful experiences that physical wounds are quite different to emotional wounds. Emotional wounds are more damaging, take longer to heal, and for some/many… they never heal..
In His 33 years of life on earth, Jesus experienced the deepest of emotional pain and sorrow through rejection. His home town of Nazareth (Matt 13:53-58), His own brothers (Jn. 7:5), His chosen disciples (Matt. 26:27, 56b), Peter – His chosen ‘spiritual rock’ (Matt. 26:69-70), and Jerusalem – God’s own city (Matt. 27:22) all turned their backs on the One who loved them enough to die for them!
I can think of five reasons as to why Jesus experienced rejection…
1. His illegitimate birth
“Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.” “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named Him Jesus” (Matt. 1:18, 24-25).
Jesus bore the shame of His illegitimate birth!
2. His physical appearance and low social status
“There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isa. 53:2b-3).
Jesus was despised and we didn’t care!
3. He stood for the ‘truth’ of God, not the ‘traditions’ of men
The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples disobey our age-old traditions?” Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” (Matt. 15:2-3).
Jesus stood for God’s truth!
4. He stood against hypocrisy
Criticizing the religious leaders, Jesus said, “You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:28).
Jesus stood for integrity!
5. He claimed to be the Son of God
Matthew recorded, “But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him I demand in the name of the living God that You tell us whether You are the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus replied, yes, it is as you say. And in the future, you will see Me, the Son of Man, sitting at the right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard His blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He must die!” (26:63-66).
Jesus’ resurrection proved that He is the Son of God!
Friends, rejection is a killer! Rejection kills relationships, personal happiness, joy, peace, and in a number of cases… even the will to live!
Mankind’s rejection of Jesus was no small thing… our sins nailed Him to a cross! Jesus knew we would reject Him long before He came into our sin–affected world. He foreknew the level of pain and sorrow He had to experience for you, me… the whole of mankind (past, present, and future).
Despite our rejection of Him, Jesus lives to forgive repentant sinners. He lives to love the redeemed with unfailing love. And, He lives to welcome the faithful into His Family, and into eternal life in a new, sinless world He is creating.
Friends, the moment we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, rejection by the world was guaranteed. However, rejection by the world cannot do us any harm!
With His dying breath, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).
‘Acceptance’ by God overcomes the pain of ‘Rejection’ by the world!
Bill
Gaelyn’s testimony of victory over years of personal rejection is a ‘must read.’
Dancing on Water 