Jesus Understands the Sting of Rejection
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- Updated May 04, 2023
“He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turn our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3).
Rejection leaves us feeling broken and alone. It attacks our self-esteem, and even temporarily reduces our IQ. When we are rejected by someone, it communicates the reality of their refusal to have, take, or recognize us; refusal to accept us; and their desire to discard us as useless.
Rejection stings, and cuts against the grain of our natural desire to love and be loved. The verse from Isaiah above is a Messianic prophecy, a prophecy from the Old Testament which points to events which occur in the New Testament, particularly fulfilled by the life of Jesus. Fully God, Jesus did not escape the rejection of also being fully man. He didn’t have to come to earth and experience all of the feels we trudge through on a daily basis, but He chose to. God sent Him to save us, and He willingly came and walked out the Father’s will.
Who Rejected Jesus?
The apostle John, Jesus’ earthly best friend, wrote:
“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him” (John 1:10-11).
Jesus was rejected by most of the people who knew and followed Him while He walked the earth, in addition to those who opposed Him. The scholars and devout Jews had waited for centuries for the Messiah, yet when He stood eye to eye with them, they refused to recognize Him. “Ironically, people rejected the one Man who should have been trusted and held in esteem,” the NIV Study Bible explains. “He alone was worthy of the esteem wrongly given to frail leaders.” Jesus was rejected in his hometown, among the people he grew up with:
“Then Jesus told them, ‘A prophet is honored everywhere except his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family’” (Mark 6:4).
Jesus lived a human life. He grew up with childhood friends and family just the same as any other person. To be rejected by strangers is hurtful, but doubly so when rejection is rooted in those who know who we are. The disciples, too, rejected Jesus in time:
“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave?’” (John 6:66-67).
Most of the twelve apostles would abandon Jesus. Only one remained at the cross – His best friend John. There are moments in life which bring so much pain into our hearts, we feel crushed by the weight of carrying it. We don’t know what else to do but succumb to it on occasion, to ugly cry it out and ask God to rescue us! Jesus understands those moments, too. Though most of us will never endure the pain of the cross, the rejection He felt is something we are akin to on this earth.
“Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Matthew 20:19).
“The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus” (Matthew 27:41).
“’Hail! King of the Jews!’ They mocked, as they slapped him across the face” (John 19:3).
Jesus knew walking out the will of His Father would not be easy. He prepped His disciples, friends and family. But nothing could prepare any human heart to endure the pain of what Jesus endured on the cross. He sacrificed His life for us, not in a quick and painless way, but in totality! The psalmist wrote:
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Psalm 22:1).
Centuries later, as Jesus was on the cross, He cried:
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ Which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” (Matthew 27:46).
The babe, born in Bethlehem, was welcomed by choirs of angels and shepherds in awe running to meet the newborn king. There was a sacred celebration of His arrival, and the wonder of the miracles He performed while He walked among His friends and disciples. It all seemed to fade to black, and rejection seemed to win. It didn’t, and He is risen, seated at the right hand of the Father. He will return, and He did defeat death and save us.
Through Christ, we too look forward to eternity in heaven. He is our hope, peace, grace, and forgiveness. New life is found in the one who was rejected on our accord. When we are experiencing the very real pain of rejection, we can come to the Father, who is compassionate. Jesus, who empathizes with us, sent His Holy Spirit as Comforter. He sees us, understands, and is mighty to save.
Verses to Pray over the Sting of Rejection
“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin” (1 Peter 4:1).
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2).
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time” (Psalm 34:19).
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