Responding To Rejection

Opening illustration: The anti-God bumper stickers covering the car seized the attention of a university professor. As a former atheist, himself, the professor thought perhaps the owner wanted to make believers angry. “The anger helps the atheist to justify his atheism,” he explained. Then he warned, “All too often; the atheist gets exactly what he is looking for.”

In recalling his own journey to faith, this professor noted the concern of a Christian friend who invited him to consider the truth of Christ. His friend’s “sense of urgency was conveyed without a trace of anger.” He never forgot the genuine respect and grace he received that day.

Believers in Jesus often take offense when others reject Him. But how does He feel about that rejection? Jesus constantly faced threats and hatred, yet He never took doubt about His deity personally. Once, when a village refused Him hospitality, James and John wanted instant retaliation. “Lord,” they asked, “do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54). Jesus didn’t want that, and He “turned and rebuked them” (v. 55). After all, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

It may surprise us to consider that God doesn’t need us to defend Him. He wants us to represent Him! That takes time, work, restraint, and love. (ODB, 05/23)

Introduction: Luke 9:51 says, “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Christ was deliberately going to Jerusalem to face even more opposition because of His commitment to die on the cross for our redemption. When James and John rightly perceived opposition to their Master, they wrongly responded with an attitude of vindictive punishment. Most likely, they were thinking of Elijah calling down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10–12) and the fire that fell in judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). However, they missed the point that Jesus’s truth claims are submitted for human consideration without compulsion or pressure.

As one theologian wisely said: “God is a Gentleman and will not violate our own free will.” The time of judgment that is most certainly coming has its own set time in God’s calendar. Before it arrives, each human being that hears the gospel has the freedom to believe it or reject it. God is “patient with [us],” the apostle Peter wrote, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). How might you show grace and faithfulness in letting your gospel light shine today regardless of the response?

1. How did the Samaritans react to the visit of Jesus? They rejected Him!

Samaritan's Rejection: "They did not receive Him, because His face was, as though He would go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:53). The Samaritans had their temple on Mount Gerizim, but because He was making for the city of His Father's House they would honor Him not. Rejecting Christ manifests itself in many ways. There are still those who will not receive Christ.

• Because He does not Honor their Works. They have, like these Samaritans, built a temple of their own, fashioned after their own thoughts and opinions, and unless the Lord Jesus Christ compliments them in some way for their good works they will receive Him not (Romans 10:2-3; Luke 18:9).

• Because He will not go with Them in their Ways. They had made up their minds to do their worship at Gerizim, and unless Jesus Christ would condescend to meet with them there they would have nothing to do with Him. The self-righteous devise their own plans, determine their own ways, and if Christ does no acknowledge such they simply receive Him not, and go on with their Christ-less work and worship.

• Because He seems to Favor Those whom They Despise. "His face was, as though He would go to Jerusalem." The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. They were like some High Churchmen who will have nothing to do with the Christ that blesses dissenters. In setting His face toward Jerusalem, He was setting His face to the Cross which still makes Him an offence to many.

Illustration: The Samaritans deliberated for a while among themselves, and then they reported back to the disciples saying, “We don’t want you guys here. Go, and don’t come back. You are not welcome here. You are Jews, and you are on your way to your holy mount in Jerusalem. We have no dealings with you or your Jesus. Get out of our town.” It is not supposed to happen is it? We hear again and again religious enthusiasts telling us that people everywhere are looking for Jesus, that there is a hunger for him all over the land, that all we have to do, is tell people about Jesus, and they will fall over themselves to believe on him. We’ve not found that to be the case, but rather what happened in Samaria is happening all over Europe and north Africa and the Middle East today. It is happening in our town and in the university. There are more than 31,000 students at the University of Iowa, and a hundred or so attend some Christian meeting. In other words, 30,900 are not interested. “No thanks,” they say. “Don’t bother us.”