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Despising and Rejecting Jesus Today

Despising and Rejecting Jesus Today

The prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be “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” (53:3 NIV84).

Reading the Gospels, we can certainly see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus’ earthly life. He was despised, rejected, and not valued or esteemed; He was eventually crucified, not merely by the pagans, but by those who claimed to be Bible-believing followers of God.

Two questions we should ask:

  1. Why did the Jews—the very people claiming to be preparing for the advent of the Messiah—despise and reject Him two thousand years ago?
  2. And does this prophecy apply beyond His earthly life; are people today, including Bible-believing Christians—the people today claiming to be preparing for the second advent of the Messiah—in danger of despising and rejecting Him?

When Jesus came to Earth, the people who were entrusted with being the avenue through which He would be born—and who were given the ceremonial teaching tools, the prophecies of His coming, and the historic evidences of God’s mercy, love, and gracious interventions for their good—hated and rejected Him. Why? What was happening in their lives, situation, society, religious teachings, and belief system that caused them to despise the message that Jesus taught?

Jesus offered them a message of love, freedom, openness, truth, integrity, mercy, grace, and forgiveness for all people, including their enemies:

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43–48 NIV84, emphasis mine).

Jesus told them that if they desired to be perfect, if they wanted to be part of the family of heaven, they needed to love their enemies, to pray for those who persecuted them, to be gracious and kind to those who did them injustices.

But consider the mindset of the people to whom Jesus said this. They were living in an occupied land. The Romans were their rulers. The Jews were not autonomous. They had puppet leaders installed by Rome, including their kings (Herod) and high priests (Caiaphas). Romans were pagans; their society was built on slave labor. The Jewish people were predominantly non-citizens and didn’t have the rights of a Roman. In this environment, the Romans perpetrated all kinds of injustices upon them.

And Jesus was now telling them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them. It would be like telling the French people during the Nazi occupation to love the Nazis and pray for the welfare of the German soldiers.

How do you think such a message would be received by the people in Ukraine today? What if your country had been invaded and taken over by an occupying force—and then a preacher came to town and told you to love your invaders and to pray for those who had raped your daughters and enslaved your sons?

Do you get some sense as to why the Jewish leaders despised, hated, and rejected Jesus? They didn’t want a Savior to save the people from fear, from selfishness, from hate, from abusing others. They wanted a savior who would empower them to do the very same thing to the Romans. They wanted a leader who would make their military strong, who could miraculously feed the troops, who could raise soldiers killed in battle to go back out and fight some more. If Jesus would have embraced their methods, sought to use physical might and power to destroy their earthly enemies, they would have embraced Him in a heartbeat.

But Jesus said,

My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place (John 18:36 NIV84, emphasis mine).

Jesus’ kingdom is the kingdom of love, truth, and liberty. He came to lead humanity away from a worldly focus to an eternal focus, from earthly justice to godly justice, from physical warfare to spiritual warfare, from a deliverance from human oppressors to a deliverance from sin that causes all oppression. But they didn’t like this focus. They preferred the earthly to the divine, the selfish to the selfless, the power-over-others paradigm to the power-to-serve-others paradigm.

Jesus is seeking loyal friends, not submissive servants. And friendship, loyalty, love, and devotion cannot be achieved through the use of might and power; it can be achieved only by truth presented in love while leaving people free. This is why Scripture teaches God’s method of warfare is “‘not by might nor by power, but by [His] Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6 NIV84). God cannot win hearts and minds by threatening and then killing those who won’t love and trust Him. Thus, Jesus’ kingdom does not advance through military might; it advances through people loving their enemies, praying for those who would abuse them, forgiving those who wrong them, being kind to those who invade their countries and persecute them—and then trusting God with the outcome.

Jesus told them,

You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38–39 NIV84, emphasis mine).

Do you see why the Jews hated and rejected Jesus? It is because they were being dominated, abused, and exploited by real injustices—and they wanted “justice;” they wanted someone to come with a strong hand to punish the Romans. They did not want meek and gentle Jesus.

As you see the abuses, injustices, exploitation, and wrongs being perpetrated upon the powerless, defenseless, and vulnerable in society today, do you respond like the Jews did two thousand years ago? Are you tempted with hate, do you long for a vengeful deliverer who will come and punish these wrongdoers, to make them pay, to put them in their place?

Or do you love your enemies, pray for those who are abusing you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven?

Jesus asked what kind of people He would find when He returns: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NIV84). Will He find people faithful to Him and His kingdom of love, or will He find, like He did two thousand years ago, people who call themselves His people but who despise and reject Him because they want a different kind of savior?

Ask yourself: Which Savior are you looking for? Will you love and embrace Jesus—or despise and reject Him?

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I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

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Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

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L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

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K.C., OH, USA

 

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I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

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I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

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I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

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I am absolutly on fire with the message at Come and Reason! I can’t get enough! I’ve read your book, blog, and articles. I’ve listened to your Bible study podcasts, your radio show, and your series – all excellent! It wasn’t until the past couple of years that I have I like I’m becoming “healthy,” with more to share with others than just beasts and commandments! I used to be a Bible worker and preached when the pastors were gone until I had had enough. I didnt realize at the time what the problem was, but i know now… the message wasn’t properly focused. Now my flame is rekindled. All of your little examples are so perfect in explaining something “complicated” and making it easily understood! Now I’m trying to shape it into a life changing evangelistic series! Thank you!

M.T., USA

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

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Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia