Day 38 – The road of rejection

Study Luke 4:16-30

“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.” Luke 4:28-29 

I was so saddened about Jesus being chased out of His hometown in episode 1 of season 3 from the Chosen series. Though I’ve read it so many times – seeing the personification of this event touched my heart deeply. His people, the people who watched Him grow up, played as a child, learned His trade, and studied the Torah in their synagogue – were willing to kill Him because they expected a Messiah for Israel, not a boy from the suburbs. It put rejection into perspective.

At its core, rejection is the act of refusing to accept, value, or believe in someone. In its most painful form, it looks like emotional indifference – treating a person as if they do not matter and withholding the unconditional love and grace of Christ.

Luke highlights two central themes that Jesus returned to repeatedly in His teaching. First is the repeated call: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” The people in Jesus’ hometown heard the words spoken, but they failed to truly listen with an open heart receptive of the truth. Second is the depth of His love. Jesus offered a deep, affectionate, and transformative love, yet that very love was met with coldness and rejection by those closest to Him.

Applying this to my life taught me to really listen and not to listen to answer – to God and to those in my life. To filter out the noise of the world and pay attention to what is being said. Even when I feel tempted to reject something or someone, to rather choose to love them as Jesus commands. And, when I am being rejected – to walk through it with Jesus as He walked through the crowd. It’s not a walk of shame; Jesus went through rejection too; it’s a walk into the future in victory.

Pray with me: Father, we all have experienced the sting of rejection in our lives: not being worthy, loved, or enough. But thank You, Jesus, for showing us that even through rejection, we walk in victory with You, and we can walk out of a situation of rejection into Your unconditional love. Amen. ©

Love, Pastor Iriza