JESUS: SOMEONE WHO WAS REJECTED
1.
I recently read about a certain
2. This phone number dedicated to rejecting people.
3. If someone calls this number they get a message that says,
4. “The person who gave you this phone number does not want to talk to you.”
5. “They never want to speak to you again.”
6. “You are hereby notified that you have been officially rejected.”
7. If you want the phone number (perhaps for a telemarketer) here it is.
8. (212) 479-7990.
9. In less than a minute you will hear enough to make you shake your heard.
WE HAVE STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHO JESUS IS. THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO STUDY JESUS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF REJECTION.
A. We usually don’t have a lot of appreciation for things or people who are rejected.
B. When people or things are rejected there is often something wrong with them.
C. When we are rejected the experience is usually painful.
D. Being rejected for a job hurts.
E. Being rejected for a date or a marriage partner wounds people.
F. When school children pick out partners for games/contests some kids are rejected.
G. This experience is anything but pleasant
2. Jesus is someone who understands rejection.
3. The Old Testament predicated that when the Lord came He would be rejected.
4. At different times people read from Isa. 53 before the Lord’s Supper is served.
5. This chapter begins by hinting at the fact that Jesus would be rejected.
6. The prophet said, “Who hath believed our report?”
7. This implied that Jesus would not be accepted.
8. In Isa. 53:3 the Lord’s rejection is explicitly stated. READ.
9. Who is Jesus?
10. He is someone who has been rejected, unwanted, and rebuffed.
A. This single fact should help anyone who is Christian.
B. If we are a Christian our leader has been spurned.
C. People have turned Him away.
D. Thus, when we are unwanted and turned away our head (Christ) knows how we feel.
E. Jesus can personally identify us when we are rebuffed.
11. One of the New Testament books that describes the Lord’s rejection is John.
A. On more than one occasion John penned some sad words.
B. He showed how the Lord was turned away and who didn’t want Him.
C. Some of this information is found in Jn. 1.
D. According to Jn. 1:12 there were some people who received the Lord.
E. There were the apostles and others. The rejection of Jesus was not total.
F. At the same time there were also many who did reject Jesus.
G. Jn. 1:11. READ.
H. It’s one thing to walk into a place of business, talk about a job, and be rejected.
I. What if our parents were in business for themselves and we went to see them.
J. They needed to hire someone and we were completely qualified for the job.
K. Suppose that we were the best candidate for the job.
L. Though we were the best qualified our parents said, “We don’t want you.”
M. “We reject you.” Suppose that they tore up our resume and pointed us to the door.
N. Most would be crushed.
O. Most would be so angry they would be tempted to carry a grudge.
P. The Bible says that Jesus came to His own.
Q. He came to the very people He had helped protect and care for under the Old Testament.
R. He came to the people He had helped bless. He came to His people.
S. John says these people didn’t want Him.
12. Jesus was rejected by the people who should have welcomed Him with open arms.
13. The rejection by the Jewish nation was very bad.
14. According to the New Testament the Lord’s rejection went beyond this.
15. If you are following along in your Bible another reference in John is Jn. 7:5.
A. Jesus had some brothers and sisters.
B. He did not grow up as an only child.
C. How did the Lord’s siblings treat Him?
D. John tells us – Jn. 7:5. READ.
E. Jesus was rejected by the Hebrew nation and by the members of His own family.
16. Some children have the opportunity to grow up in a certain community.
A. In these cases children spend most of their lives in a single place.
B. This is basically what Jesus experienced.
C. Grow up He didn’t find great acceptance among His brothers and sisters.
D. In His later life many in the nation of Israel didn’t accept Him (Jn. 1:11).
E. How did the people in the Lord’s hometown respond to Him?
F. Luke tells us in Lk. 4:28-30.
G. There came a time when Jesus returned to the place where He had spent a lot of time.
H. This place was Nazareth (Lk. 4:16). This was the Lord’s home.
I. He came back home and attended a worship service in the synagogue.
J. He read a passage of scripture, sat down, and then made a comment.
K. Let’s see how the people responded.
L. Lk. 4:28-29 – READ.
M. Who was Jesus? He was someone who was rejected.
17. He was rejected by His family members (at least the majority of them for a long time).
18. He was rejected by the people in His hometown.
19. He was even rejected by the majority of the Hebrew nation.
A. Another passage in John that needs to be read is Jn. 15:24-25.
B. I cite this passage because rejection comes in different forms.
C. We may apply for a job and be rejected in a nice way.
D. Rejection may be silent; no one contacts us.
E. It is also possible that the rejection is nasty and cruel.
F. John 15 tells us about another type of rejection that Jesus received.
G. READ Jn. 15:24-25.
H. Jesus was not just rejected. He was hated.
I. He was hated so much that people tried to kill Him.
20. SOMETIME AFTER THE DAY OF PENTECOST (ACTS 4) THERE WAS A PREACHER BY THE NAME OF PETER. THIS PREACHER SAID THAT JESUS HAD BEEN REJECTED.
A. In Acts 4 the ASV uses the word “nought.”
B. The NKJV has the word “rejected.”
C. This information is in Acts 4:11. READ.
D. People rejected the Lord but it didn’t matter.
E. The Father was the only one who counted concerning Jesus.
F. The Father insured that Jesus was made “the head of the corner.”
G. A spiritual temple fit for God is being built and the one who was rejected is the centerpiece.
H. Jesus is the head of this structure; He is in the most prominent place.
21. The Lord’s rejection by men and His acceptance by the Father is instructive for us.
A. When we are rejected we must realize that someone we know understands.
B. If we are a Christian our leader has been rejected in ways that we can’t comprehend.
C. Our rejections will always be less than the ones experienced by the Lord.
D. In fact, I would be remiss if something was not said about Judas.
E. Imagine how Jesus must have felt when Judas turned on Him.
F. Jesus was rejected by one of His closest friends.
G. When people experience this type of thing today the Lord understands.
22. The Lord’s rejection also indicates another helpful truth.
23. He was rejected by men but exalted by God.
24. A similar thing is true for every Christian.
A. We may be rejected for our athletic abilities.
B. We may be turned away from a job(s) that we want.
C. We may be rejected in a hundred different ways.
D. If we are a faithful Christian we will be accepted by the only one that matters.
25. A time is coming when all people will either be rejected or accepted by God.
26. It does no good to live a life where we are always accepted if we die unsaved.
27. Being accepted by God is the only thing that really counts.
28. At the present time if we are being rejected by people, study again the accounts of Mt. – Jn.
29. Realize that your rejections are temporary and ultimately insignificant.
30. The one who was rejected has been appointed as Lord and judge.
31. At the present moment would He reject us or accept us if we stood before Him?