“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” –John 15:18 (NIV)
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33 (NASB)
What a powerful thought that I have pondered the last few weeks……
I have overcome the world.
Let the impact of that settle in your soul as we explore that thought this week!
Photo courtesy of Patrick Slaven under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Have you ever felt like you were suddenly rejected by people and/or the things of this world?
Or maybe you, like me, have seen it played out with someone dear to you whether a relative or friend? Sometimes I think it is harder on us on the sidelines rather than the actual person.
I think it depends on the individual and their outlook on life. As I shared previously, my youngest son says, “You control what bothers you.”
Maybe you did not get the job you thought would be perfect for you.
Maybe you were told there was not a spot for you on a sport team that you had been on in years past.
Maybe your essay was not good enough which meant you could not be included in a special club.
Maybe the program you really wanted to participate to get some good experience did not accept you.
Photo courtesy of Caro Wallis under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
How do you handle those rejections that come along that really are a natural part of life?
Do you find it easy to let all those rejections get you down, to feel that God is not on our side, that nothing works out like it should?
As I was lamenting those cases with experiences my son was going through, it hit me that Jesus, too, was often rejected by men in this world. This thought occurred to me as I was worshiping at a Jeremy Camp concert a few weeks ago.
Let’s step back first and look at some Scripture passages that talk about some rejections that Jesus faced in His short years on this earth. It seems He, even being the Son of God, had more than enough rejections that He faced.
John 1:10-11 (ESV)
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
Imagine leaving heaven, coming to earth, as the Messiah and His own people, the Jews, did not believe He was the one; they rejected Him!
Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Jesus life on earth was filled with sorrow when people rejected Him, not accepting the love He was bringing to this world. He was beaten before being hung on the cross and yet they still did not consider Jesus the Savior.
Psalm 118:22 (ESV)
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Though many in Jesus’ day rejected Him, God’s plan of having Jesus save us from all our sin became the foundation for our faith. It all starts with Jesus!
1 Peter 2:4 (ESV)
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
As we come to accept Jesus, our faith becomes alive and is built on the foundation of Jesus.
Luke 4:28-30 (NASB)
And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.
This passage refers to Jesus teaching in His home town of Nazareth when He was reading the scroll of Isaiah stating the prophecy was fulfilled through Him. They did not believe or like the things Jesus was saying. I like how Jesus just walked away and moved on.
Luke 17:25 (ESV)
But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Before the Son of Man came in all His glory, He came willingly to this earth to suffer and endure the rejection of many.
The greatest rejection that Jesus faced was death, death on the cross!!
Photo courtesy of Wei Han Frank Lin under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
How did Jesus handle His rejections during His life on earth?
By accepting the situation, moving on, taking time to pray to God, His Father, and loving all, even those who were inflicting the rejection. We never read any stories of Jesus feeling sad or angry for the rejections He endured.
What kept Jesus fueled when He was rejected by the people of this world?
–Knowing that God, His Father, is who He belonged to
–Knowing that what people thought of Him did not ultimately matter
–Knowing that His identity was based only on what His Father said about Him
–Knowing that God has the ultimate victory over all
Aren’t those statements great fuel for us too when we face rejection in this world?
As I was listening to a song at that concert I mentioned in the beginning, the word that struck me was OVERCOME! If you have a few minutes, I think you would be blessed to listen to the song, entitled Overcome.
Despite all the rejections Jesus experienced, and most importantly, death on a cross, He OVERCAME….He was VICTORIOUS! You and I will spend eternity in Heaven because Jesus OVERCAME rejection from men of this world!
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
