Despised and Rejected of Men

Read the following texts, all the while keeping in mind the fact that

Jesus was divine, the Creator of heaven and earth, and that He

came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world

(Matt. 12:22–24; Luke 4:21–30; John 8:58, 59). How do these texts

help us understand the sufferings that Jesus faced here on earth?

Whether by leaders, or even by the common people, Jesus’ life, acts,

and teaching were constantly misunderstood, leading to rejection and

hatred from people He came to save. In a certain sense, it must be like a

parent who sees a wayward child in need of help, and though the parent

is willing to give everything for that child, the child spurns the parent,

heaping scorn and rejection upon, perhaps, the only person who can

spare that child from utter ruin. That’s what Jesus faced while here on

earth. How painful it must have been for Him.

Read Matthew 23:37. What does it tell us about how Christ felt about

the rejection? As you read, ask yourself, too, Was He feeling bad for

Himself (as we often do when facing rejection), or was it for another

reason? If for another reason, what was it?

We’ve all felt the sting of rejection, and maybe our pain was similar

to Christ’s in that it was unselfish: we were pained, not because we were

rejected, but because of what the rejection would mean for the one who

was rejecting us (perhaps someone we care about who refuses to accept

salvation in Christ). Imagine, though, how it must have felt to Jesus, who

was fully aware of what He was to face in order to save them, and at the

same time fully aware of what the consequences of their rejection would

be. “It was because of His innocence that He [Christ] felt so keenly the

assaults of Satan.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, p. 129.

What can you learn from Christ that can help you better cope

with the pain of rejection? What does His example show you?

How can you apply it to your own life?