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JESUS IS REJECTED (LUKE 4:14-30)

Reflection

“Jesus is rejected” is the theme for our reflection. A person is rejected if he or she is not approved or accepted. We shall reflect on the fact that just as Jesus is rejected by his people for speaking the truth, we may also face rejection for telling the truth.

Dear friend in Christ, we may not always experience approval or acceptance when we speak the truth. Jesus spoke the truth about the lack of faith of the Israelites, for which their prophets including Himself were unable to perform miracles among them, ““Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:24-27) After Jesus had told them the truth, “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” (Luke 4:28-30). Again, we are told in John’s Gospel that “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12) Indeed we are encouraged to speak the truth in love yet some people will stop loving you or reject you for speaking the truth. We must, however not be discouraged from speaking the truth even when we are not loved by our audience. Our calling is to please God in everything we do even if it means losing friends, colleagues, and family members because we spoke and stood by the truth. Our Lord Jesus assured us, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).

It is important to note that we may be rejected today but God will vindicate us and glorify His name at His own time. We are greatly encouraged by the testimony of the Psalmist when he wrote, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes. (Psalms 118:22-23) May the Lord make you the cornerstone of your family, church and society irrespective of the number of times you have been rejected. Amen.

In summary, we have learnt that sometimes we may experience rejection like Jesus when we speak or stand for the truth. However, we are greatly encouraged not to shy away from speaking the truth but always do the will of God even if we are rejected. We must please God at all times. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit empower us to speak the truth at all times so that we may glorify and please God in all our dealings. Amen.