Jesus Was Rejected

St. John 1:10-12 "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

A times, a leader might get rejected by men who supposed to appreciate and receive him with open hands. This may occur for many reasons. The emphasis here is that the leader is rejected and not about the reasons why. Rejection could come for good reasons and for wrong. True measure of the success of a leader is not by rejection nor by acceptance. Success is measure in the fulfillment of purpose. Did the leader achieve the purpose he came in to the world or purpose for the leadership?

Rejection can be disheartening. Rejection breaks the flow of the consistency of the good leader. The leader may find himself or herself in the middle of no where trying to figure out what to do. This is where God has a lot to do to help the leader. The good leader must know how to believe in himself or herself. The good leader must know how to have faith in God who gives direction and inner strength.

Jesus was supported by men and women who believed in him and enjoyed his ministry but on the other hand, he was rejected by others for no genuine reason other than for selfish reasons. They rejected him simply because they did not understand his ways, they did not know him.

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not..."

To know him goes beyond the physical, biological and social front. They had no spiritual understanding of who Jesus was. They knew him to be the son of Mary and Joseph. They knew him as someone who learnt the skill of carpentry. They knew him socially. For Jesus to show himself vast in heavenly things above his contemporaries and elders was too much for them to bear. Where did he get all of that without being formally schooled? Though he was God and created all things from the beginning, he came down to the level of man so that man can be brought closer to God. This, they did not understand.

"... the world was made by him, and the world knew him not...."

In what way and by what means did the world rejected him?

"..He came unto his own, and his own received him not..."

Jesus showed tremendous amount of wisdom that could not be hidden. This brought him to the public eye and triggered an alarm among the Pharisees, the Saducees, scribes and the priests. It was uncomfortable for them. He was introducing a new order that will force them to change and they were not ready for change. They fought back by rejection.

"...But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

Some rejected him but some accepted him. Those that accepted him were given power to become the sons of God. This is what they missed who rejected him. They lost the golden opportunity to access greater things of this life.

Jesus did not take rejection personally. He knew that by their rejection, God will defeat the works of darkness.

St. John 15:23-25 "He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."

Jesus saw the bigger picture in their rejection. He was not moved by what they did against him. God used it for His good. Hell was wounded and heaven celebrated. Jesus fulfilled the purpose he came. If leaders will learn from Jesus, they will handle rejection with the wisdom of God.

You will appreciate what we are talking about here if you will go back in history and see how leaders handle rejection. Some might fight back and things can get really ugly. Jesus was calm seeing the bigger picture. That was a healthy approach to it. A leader may need to encourage himself during rejection. There is no room for discouragement.

St. Matthew 26:3-4 "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him."

Jesus understood this well ahead of time and saw how God will use it for His glory and he willingly gave himself. Will you do the same? Though yours might be a little bit different, will you see rejection as an opportunity for the greater things to happen? Though you might be rejected, know that you will as well be accepted. The acceptance will well overshadow the rejection.

Pray;

My God, I thank You that You will never leave nor forsake me. When I am rejected, Your open hands is there to receive me. I will not take rejection personally because I am accepted in Christ Jesus. Amen!