Verses for Vessels

Easter Lights...3

"He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem."- Isaiah 53:3 NIV

Acquainted...

In our previous Easter Light, we considered the difficulty that comes with embracing Jesus. In Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount recently, Jesus taught: 'Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad...' 1. If you have ever experienced rejection, and shame; if you have ever been blighted by false allegations or accusations. If you have known what it feels like to be passed over for a job, a promotion or simply a party invitation, then you would agree that rejoicing in such a moment is not the easiest thing to do. There are several layers of pain that can come through such an experience. But God gives us grace through Jesus Christ. In the verse before us today, we witness the suffering Prince in exactly such a situation. He was familiar with rejection, grief and sorrow.

Known...

It is one thing to suffer from the lies of those who do not know you, or are unfamiliar with your background. It is quite another, and a more painful matter, to suffer disgrace at the hands of those you call your own. Jesus, Son of David, an innocent man was maligned, falsely accused and wrongfully sentenced to death. Just before we hurry him up the inglorious tree, let's step back and look at his life on earth. Born of a virgin in Bethlehem, Jesus grew up in Nazareth of Galilee. He came to be known as the Son of Joseph the Carpenter. His ways and dealings among his small community and the wider Nazareth was such that the locals were familiar with his family. He had brothers, who were known. He had sisters who were known. From this environment he departed often to Jerusalem and to this place he returned often as well. Even in Jerusalem, he had developed quite an early reputation as a keen student of the Law and the Prophets, asking and answering questions of the teachers of the Law during a festive visit at the age of twelve. Soon after his baptism, he emerged from the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit, and went to the synagogue in Nazareth, as his custom was. There on a sabbath, he was given the scroll to read, which he did. He was KNOWN. 

Not enough...

His life and ministry consisted of preaching, teaching, miracles and debates with the religious leaders. Most times, his exploits were very public. At other times, there were a privileged few who were allowed to witness. In all things his manners and activities were open for all to see. Initially he was reluctant about divulging his full glory and nature to everyone, but over time, and as their understanding grew, he began to open up to his apostles about his coming suffering, death and ultimate purpose; as well as their role in the plan. He used parables, and open debates as well as fearless rebukes to draw the attention of all, particularly the religious leaders, to who he truly was. Yet, in spite of his devoutness and moral clarity; in spite of his scholarly focus, selfless love and tenderness; in spite of his gracious power- healing the sick, raising the dead, forgiving the sinners.... He was DESPISED  and REJECTED by all of them. Nothing he said or did was enough for them.

Despised

'Despise' is a very strong word, expressing a very strong feeling. According to various dictionaries, it means to feel deep contempt for, to hate, to be repulsed by, to find intolerable or unbearable, to loathe, to regard as negligible or find distasteful. How can anyone willingly swallow that which they find distasteful? How would anyone accommodate something which they are repulsed by? Who in their normal reasoning would seek to esteem that which the feel deep contempt for? Such were the true feelings in the minds of those who led Jesus to the Cross. From the disciples who betrayed him, the priests and pharisees who judged him, to the people who falsely accused him, and on to the Romans who crucified him. Some despised him because they hated what he stood for, others because they couldn't bear to suffer with him. For one reason or the other, each group in its own way, despised him. And the only reason they could afford to REJECT him, was because they had first come to DESPISE him. But remember who it is they have despised. The same one who they knew so well, even in his earthly form. He gave them no reason whatsoever, for this contempt with which they handled his testimony. They despised Jesus, the Carpenter's son. They despised Jesus the healer. They despised Jesus the great teacher of truth. They despised Jesus the fearless judge. They despised Jesus the merciful Rabbi. They despised the One whom John had called 'the Lamb of God'. They found him repulsive, distasteful, loathsome, intolerable, unbearable... all for being and doing NOTHING WRONG.

Rejected

He was despised, and REJECTED (cast off-dismissed as inadequate or unacceptable, thrown off, considered incompetent or unfit for a purpose). This should cause one to wonder, what other purpose did they have in mind for which this glorious Prince was unfit, unworthy, and most unnecessary? Even today, we find that in our own lives we daily disregard the Prince of Glory. We treat him as though of low esteem. We fail to prioritise his counsel, and his fellowship. We fail to prioritise his fear in our hearts. And for this reason, we would often find that as other things, cares , ambitions and fears, take over our souls, we do no differently from those who first betrayed him to the Romans. In the same way that they were familiar with his upbringing and his activities in the light among them, so also are we today. Many who still deny the Lordship of Jesus do so out of choice; a choice they do not realise is being made within them whenever they prefer the opinion of men to the eternal Word of God. People travel thousands of miles to explore an idea, or visit a historic sight, or seek out a lost relative. So why not set out to explore the truth in Christ? He has done nothing wrong. Jesus is alive even today, and you can find him just by examining your heart in the light of his Word, and doing a sincere search of the scriptures...even online. He still heals the sick, raises the dead, provides for the needy; and yes, he still saves the lost. But many today still cast him off as offensive; like an inappropriate view or philosophy. For many people, Jesus Christ is rejected, as incompetent, unacceptable, dated, out of touch and unnecessary. They consider him unsuitable and inadequate for their life's purposes.

The gospel of John puts it this way: "Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted."2

Accepted...?

God's answer is this: 'Give me your heart, and I will heal your anger and bitterness towards me. I will give you a heart of flesh that can see me for who I am and embrace me in my love for you. The bitterness against Jesus is not natural. It is the reaction of the enemy within'. But only you and I can decide if that enemy can continue in residence over our souls or if he must evict urgently so that our Daystar can dawn with grace and beauty. Perhaps it's time to face the truth about Jesus. Maybe it's time to stop hiding our faces from his Light. He is good. He is true. He saves. He is still relevant today... and you can know this. He himself, calls you his own. Now, what say ye?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I find that I can no longer hide my face from you. I have pretended to know that which I have never sought out. Today I come to you, humbly, seeking your light. Help me see your innocence and my guilt, that I may experience the power of your forgiveness on that tree. Free my heart to love you. In Jesus name, amen.

References:

.1).Matthew 5:11 NIV  .2). John 1:11 TLB