The Great Rejection

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)

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I can still remember the sting of rejection that I felt when as an overweight 9 -year old fourth grader, I was always the last one selected for kickball teams. There were other rejections that also wounded: a high school sorority, a dance team competition, a book proposal, a friendship. The one thing that each rejection had in common was that each one hurt. Not to the same degree, of course, but no rejection ever felt good. I dare say, few of us enjoy experiencing rejection.

This week as we celebrate Easter, Christ's resurrection and victory over death, many of us will remember Jesus' suffering and painful death on the cross. I wonder, however, how many of us have ever considered the great rejection that Jesus endured throughout his life and ministry. Dr. Kevin DeYoung lists just a few of the ways Jesus experienced rejection by His own:

  • The Pharisees hated him

  • The Sadducees loathed him

  • The scribes debated him

  • The chief priest accused him

  • The Jews persecuted him

  • His own family did not believe him

  • His hometown rejected him

  • His disciples doubted him

  • Peter denied him

  • Judas betrayed him

  • Herod harassed him

  • Pilate washed his hands of him

  • And the Romans finally crucified him

None of that rejection, however, compares to the rejection that Jesus experienced as he cried out from the cross, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) On the cross, Jesus was forsaken by God. 

Author Tim Keller writes, "Jesus, the Maker of the world, was being unmade. Why? Jesus was experiencing our judgment day. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" wasn't a rhetorical question. And the answer is: for you, for me, for us. Jesus was forsaken by God so that we would never have to be. The judgment that should have fallen on us fell on Jesus." (The King's Cross, p.202)

Jesus experienced the rejection that we deserve. He was rejected by God so that we would never have to be. His redemptive rejection means that we can be accepted by God when we put our faith and trust in Jesus and his work on the cross.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

Redemptive rejection secured!

DiscipleshipHolly HollonSalvation, rejection, cross, Easter