“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”
Isaiah 53:3
The dictionary defines the word reject as: to refuge to have, take, recognize, grant, accept; to discard as useless or unsatisfactory; to cast out or eject, vomit. Based on the definition, it is probably safe to say that most people have a least one if not many experiences of being rejected. A failed relationship could leave that feeling of being rejected. Not getting that job or promotion can also leave us feeling rejected. What about those sometimes cruel words others or ourselves speak into our lives? It doesn’t feel good to feel useless or unwanted. Did you know that God knows the feeling of being rejected?
In the Scripture above, Isaiah speaking about the coming Messiah tells the people that the one they are waiting for will be despised and rejected, that he will understand the pain and suffering that comes with rejection. Even before this we see God feeling the sting of rejection. The nation of Israel is demanding a human king, rather than being satisfied with God as king. We read in Samuel: “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king” (1 Samuel 8:6-7). People continue to reject God and in spite of that He still loves us, He still sent Jesus.
Jesus certainly understood rejection. The people of His “home town” couldn’t or wouldn’t believe that “the carpenter’s son” could be anything but a carpenter. One of Jesus’ friends betrayed Him, another denied knowing Him and many others abandoned Him. He entered Jerusalem to a hero’s welcome but left the city as a condemned criminal. Even as He was hanging on the cross, he felt the sting of rejection as His Father turned temporarily away.
We live in a broken world, surrounded by broken people and we ourselves often feel broken and rejected. But there is someone who stands ready every day to welcome us into His family. To let us know we are wanted, that we have purpose, that we are loved and that we are enough. He knows what it means to be despised and rejected but He still loved us enough to die on the cross for us, to make us whole again when we accept His gift of forgiveness and life.
Tired of feeling rejected? Seek out Jesus, accept His gift and be welcomed into the abundant life He made you for. He is waiting for you right where you are.
A Prayer
Our Father – As we ponder the miracle of Your resurrection may we seek after You will our whole hearts, allowing your love, mercy and grace to welcome us into the life You have planned for us. A life filled with purpose and belonging. For those feeling the sting of being rejected right now bring Your comfort and Your healing. In the name of Jesus who understands – amen.
