The Old Testament word “hadel” is used in this verse that is transliterated as rejected, but this word has also been used in the Bible to mean forbearing. The word “hadel” is used in Ez 3: when God told the prophet that some will listen to the message but there will also be those who refuse to listen. In the KJV we read that “He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear. So the Suffering Servant, which we say is Jesus Christ, was rejected by the religious leaders, and they refused to listen to his message.
We all like to be accepted: to get the job, to get a personalised gift, where someone made that special effort to get your name right. We all like to be accepted. And conversely, we don't want to be overlooked or, even worse, put down or removed from the rota.
Jesus, the Suffering Servant was rejected, and the authorities actively rejected him. But Jesus' rejection was much more than that from a self-indulgent group. This rejection was far deeper, more widespread, and closer to home. Right from the beginning he was rejected, including his family members. In the Gospel of John, we read that "Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” You can just hear the sneering tone being used by Jesus' brothers. They looked at Jesus and saw a man who wanted to make it big, be the big Kahuna, the main man, which was the opposite of what he wanted. Jesus healed and told those who were made whole to tell no one about it. He didn’t want to be the focus of all the attention. No, it wasn’t attention he wanted, he showed great humility throughout his ministry. Yet his family rejected Jesus.
On one occasion, Jesus had just finished preaching and had been talking a lot in parables. He preached about the parable of the sower, then about the weeds, the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and finally the net. Everywhere he went everyone was impressed with Jesus' wisdom. What did he do next? Did he stay around and soak up all the glory and adulation? No, he turned around and went home. Next, he started to preach at the local synagogue, but the reaction wasn’t the same. Yes, they were amazed by His wisdom and the miracles were great, but there was something wrong. "Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offence at him.” You see familiarity breeds contempt. How could they take offence? What did He do wrong? He taught and he healed yet they took offence! He was rejected.
Moving on, we get to the final day of Jesus' earthly ministry. Jesus and His disciples are in the Upper Room where they have a meal together. While they are eating Jesus leans over to Judas and tells him to go. Judas turns his back on his teacher and goes out to betray Him. During the meal, Jesus introduces the “Last Supper.” and after the meal, they go out to the Mount of Olives and then to the Garden of Gethsemane. This was all too much for the disciples and they fell asleep. Yet while they were asleep, a detachment of soldiers, up to 600 soldiers came with the religious leaders and Judas to arrest Jesus. The commotion was loud enough to awaken the disciples. Peter was probably still drowsy, not really knowing what was going on, and got hold of a sword and cut the High Priest's servant's ear off, which Jesus duly healed.
The soldiers took Jesus away for questioning, and while this was going on Peter was also asked some questions. Are you a Galilean? Are you a disciple of Jesus? "No way!" responded Peter. Peter was brave enough to take a sword to the servant but these questions were too much, too personal and Peter betrayed Jesus. He rejected Him. However, this rejection wasn’t on a single occasion, Peter denied Jesus three times.
The trial was a farce. The witnesses couldn’t get their act together, but that didn't matter because the hearing was a foregone conclusion from the very beginning. Jesus was found guilty and sentenced to death. Some more manoeuvering took place, some more face-saving, but in the end, the Son Of Man, who healed and reconciled humanity to God went to the cross.
But it was here that the final act of rejection took place. Not by any person, but this time the rejection was by God Himself. The sins of mankind were thrust onto the shoulders of Jesus. The sacrificial lamb became a human sacrifice, but still as innocent. The nails were banged into Jesus' hands and feet, and as the crown of thorns was pushed into Jesus' head the blood poured out, and the demands of the Law were satisfied. As the Son of God hung upon the cross the Holy Father God saw the sins of mankind, and He turned his back on His own Son. This was true rejection, and in despair, Jesus cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?.” Why indeed? At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told His Heavenly Father that He would rather not go to the cross, but he would if it was the Father's will. But having done His will, God now turned away from the sacrifice. The reality was this cry from Jesus was not from the heart but from his brain. He knew what would happen. He knew that 1000 years earlier David wrote these very words in Psalm 22. Even in all the pain, Jesus remembered these words; he knew that he had to utter them. He knew that God was Holy and couldn’t face the iniquity of the world. He knew that he would be rejected, yet even his cry of despair was for others, for you and me.
Today, over 2000 years after Jesus Christ was rejected how does this relate to us? Quite simply, if we are following Jesus Christ, if we are his disciples, then we will follow His instructions and be part of the Great Commission, as stated in Matt 28:18 to 20. If we do that; and “go and make disciples of all nations”, then some of those who hear the message will react, just like those who reacted to Jesus’ message, and reject our message and reject us. Although the population may not know what sin is, they certainly know that it has negative connotations - to be doing something wrong. No one likes to be told that they are doing something wrong, and they will certainly not like a complete stranger pronouncing judgement on their behaviour. Even members of our family may reject our message. The culture wars in the West are all about ideas. Those who reject the Christian message may then proceed to attempt to cancel the Christian who is declaring the Word of God. Cancelling a person could involve losing their job, and losing their reputation. Although I live in the West, I am all too aware that there are many countries where rejection is a lot more devastating than losing a job. Rejection can also mean losing your life. And so today, are you prepared to lose your job and your reputation? Are you prepared to be rejected because you shared the Good News of Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sins? My prayer is that we take God at His Word when He said “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
