If You Have Been Rejected You’re Not Alone

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 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. — John 1:9-11

At this point, we have established a foundation to make sense out of what could be a very cryptic text if you read it apart from the first eight verses. This text is saying that Jesus, the Word that provides divine understanding, has come into the world. And although he has come down from heaven into the world to bring understanding, not everyone will understand. And the sad part is that his people, those who descend from his race and religion, who were told the Savior would come, are not going to accept him as the Divine Word. In short, they rejected him.

People in this life will reject Jesus for all kinds of reasons. In the Gospel of John, you will see people reject him because:

1. They think their life is good enough.
2. They're afraid of social rejection.
3. They're unwilling to give things up.
4. They have a calloused heart.

But this one is heartbreaking because it was so personal. It was rejection by those Jesus had first in his mind when he came to this life. This is a very painful form of rejection. And for those who have experienced something like this, you know what this feels like. And Jesus connects with this because he knows this type of rejection.

But Jesus knew this. He knew he would be rejected. This didn't surprise him. He was the Word, and he knew the Word, and it was declared 700 years before this event ever happened that.

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. — Isaiah 53:3

But there is something special we need to see in this. That Jesus came despite this known rejection communicates how much he loves us. He loves us so much that he was willing to be intentionally rejected by his people so that he might save some. How cool is that?

ASK THIS: Do you know how much Jesus loves you?

DO THIS: Tell him you love him.

PRAY THIS: God, thank you for sending your Son, rejected by men, to save me.

PLAY THIS: Man Of Sorrows.