REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION

“ ‘Truly I tell you,’ He continued, ‘no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.’ ”  Luke 4:24 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Luke, the physician, and a travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  After He was baptized by John the baptizer, Jesus was led into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. (Luke 4:1-2)  Afterwards, He returned to Galilee and began teaching in the synagogues. (Luke 4:14-15)  When He left Galilee He went to Nazareth.  On the Sabbath He went into the synagogue as was His custom.  On that day He stood up and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:16-20)  Then He rolled up the scroll and sat down and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:20-21)  He taught them, and they were amazed for they knew Him as Joseph’s son.  Then He said, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” (Luke 4:24)  When He finished speaking, the people in the synagogue were furious and they ran Him out of town.  They were going to throw Him off of a cliff, but He walked through the crowd unharmed. (Luke 4:28-30)

 

APPLICATION

It is a sad reflection of reality that we are often more likely to be respected by outsiders than we are by members of our own family.  Our family and friends may love us, but because they know us, they frequently have difficulty accepting us as a wise and knowledgeable person (expert) on any subject.  Even when they know that we have been educated and trained, our wisdom is frequently questioned.  They will ask us for our opinion and then they will argue with us about it.  Do not let this bother you, the family of Jesus, The Christ, did not respect His wisdom or abilities.  He said, “A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.” (Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, and Luke 4:24)  Don’t be discouraged, continue to study and gain wisdom and knowledge, and continue to share it with others, especially regarding The Word of God, because our goal is to be approved by God, not by man. (2 Timothy 2:15)

 

HAVING DONE NO WRONG BUT STILL REJECTED

PROCLAMATION

“Achish answered, ‘I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’  Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.’”  1 Samuel 29:9-10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

During the time when he was discouraged as he continued to flee from King Saul, David left the wilderness of Ziph and went to Gath and settled with Achish, the son of Maok, the king of Gath.  Achish gave David and his men the town of Ziklag to live in. (1 Samuel 27:6-7)  Later, as the Philistines were preparing to go to war, David and his men joined in with them, but the Philistine commanders refused to accept him. (1 Samuel 29:3-4)  When David asked why he couldn’t go with them and what had he done; this was the reply that Achish gave him.  The Philistine commanders rejected David because of who he was and for what he had done in the past. (1 Samuel 29:5)

APPLICATION

David had done nothing wrong for the year and a half that he had been living with the Philistines, but he was still rejected because of his past.  There are people today who will not accept us because of what we have done in the past.  There are others who will refuse to accept us because of who we are.  We cannot change people or the way they perceive us.  We are only responsible for our behavior towards them.  If we are not accepted for who we are, then it is time for us to move on.  Don’t stay where you are not wanted.  If people cannot forgive us there is nothing that we can do about it.  The Lord God has forgiven us for our past sins.  It is Satan who keeps reminding us of our past sins so that we feel unacceptable.  We need to ask God to forgive us and then learn how to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes and move on.  The Lord God can close one door that no one can open, and He can open another door that no one can close. (Revelation 3:7-8)  Trust in God and move on.

The Suffering Of Christ Predicted

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

More than 400 years beforehand, the prophet Isaiah predicted the rejection and suffering that Jesus Christ would endure during His earthly ministry. Isaiah stated that Jesus would be pierced and physically abused for our iniquities and transgressions, and that by His wounds we would be healed.

The physical suffering that Jesus would endure as payment for our sins so that we might be saved, was predicted by the prophet Isaiah and later verified by the apostles Matthew, Mark, and John, and by Luke, the physician and close companion of the apostle Paul. We ought to thank Jesus The Christ everyday for His role in our redemption and salvation.