There’s Joy In Rejection

Introduction

Well, good morning. It’s a good day, and we know that it’s a good day because our Lord Jesus lives. And if you have your Bibles, I’ll invite you to turn to John chapter 15. John chapter 15, that’ll be the basis of our lesson. This morning we’re going to be going over the topic of rejection and uh how some rejection really stings. I know as uh a young man and as a growing man that I face a lot of rejection, some uh with school, some with jobs. Uh, you know, whenever I asked John to take one of his cars when out without him knowing, uh, he always finds out and says no. But uh there’s a lot of rejection that’s in the world that can really hurt, and most rejection does.

But I think our Lord Jesus shares us a message that shows that rejection can also be a source of joy. So if you have your Bibles, look at John chapter 15. John chapter 15, beginning in verse 18, it says, If the world hated you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I choose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me.

1. Why Did the World Reject Jesus?

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have seen and also hated before me and my father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled, which is written in their law. They hated me without a cause. See, we’re gonna understand that going through rejection, we have to understand first that the world rejected Jesus. And this may come to some questions. The first question we’re gonna be going over when we are talking about the world rejecting Jesus is well, why did the world reject Jesus?

Look back in chapter and verse 19. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. The world rejected Jesus because he was not of this world. He shared a message from God that was from heaven, and ultimately they didn’t believe. The Jewish people were waiting for this mighty Savior, they were waiting for this great king, this great ruler to come and make everything better.

But I like what it says in our reading at the very end in verse 25. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled, which is written in their law. They hated me without cause. They’re quoting Psalms, but look in Isaiah 51. I’m sorry, Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 is a well known is a well known scripture, but I want to go over it real quick. I love how Jesus, when we are going through our reading, even pointed out himself. Hey, in your own scripture, it was saying that you were going to hate me. In your own scripture, you were going to reject me. Isaiah 53, beginning in verse 3, he was despised and rejected by man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, as we hid, as it were, our faces from him.

He was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes, we are healed.

Isaiah said that they were gonna reject me. Psalm said they were going to reject me. Just a little context of what we’re going through in John chapter 15. Um, John 13 through 18, there they had Jesus washed the feet, Judas went out to betray Jesus. Jesus is giving this rejection talk to the apostles right before he heads to the Garden of Gethsemane, and he’s about to be turned over.

2. How Was Jesus Rejected?

Well, how was Jesus rejected? He was betrayed. He was hated by the Jewish people, and even the priests and the religious leaders had it out for Jesus. When they brought Jesus in from the Garden of Gethsemane, the religious leaders tried their best to come up with some type of false accusation to get Jesus to be gone. And when we say gone, they didn’t just want Jesus away. They didn’t just want Jesus out of town. They wanted him dead. Look at Matthew chapter 26. Matthew 26, verse Matthew 26, verse 17 and 18 says, Now on the first day of the feast of the unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying to him, Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover? And he’s and he said, Go into the city to a certain man, say to him, The teacher says, My time is at hand, I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.

What Jesus is warning them here is that this is what’s going to happen. My time is at hand. Now look in verse 57. And those who had laid on laid hold of Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest courtyard, and he went and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priests and the elders and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but found none. Even though many witnesses came forward, they found none, but at least two witnesses came forward. Here what we are seeing is that they are trying their best. And when you turn a page to Matthew 27 and they bring him to Pilate, they bring him to Pilate.

And verse 17, it says, therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, Whom do you want me to release you? Bar barbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ. For they knew that he they handed him over because of envy. We talked about why Jesus was rejected. They were jealous. They didn’t have a real reason to hand him over. And it was so evident to even Pilate. Pilate, we know was the Roman official at the time that they brought him to. And Pilate, the whole trial of Jesus, was trying to figure out what Jesus did. And ultimately, Pilate couldn’t even convict Jesus of a crime.

It was the hateful crowd of the Jewish leaders that led Pilate to make the decision to send Jesus to the cross. But it said that even Pilate saw that they were envious. Even Pilate saw how jealous they were of Jesus. And that’s what they wanted, brothers and sisters. They rejected Jesus because all they wanted was the power. All they wanted was the influence, the control.

3. How Did Jesus Handle Rejection?

John chapter 16, beginning in verse 31. And Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? Indeed, the hour is coming. Yes, has come, that you will be scattered each to his own and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer.

How did Jesus handle rejection? He overcame the world. He went to the cross. He died for us. He showed us that he loved us. Jesus dying on the cross was the ultimate sign that the rejection of the people hurt, but it didn’t hurt enough for him to not love us. Understand that Jesus going through this trial, Jesus going through this torment, Jesus going through this process was very hard. It was a very hard process.

He is talking with his father. And he understands that what is upon him is something that nobody would ever want to go through. The mockings, after the beatings, after the scourgings, after the slander, and even while dying. How did Jesus handle rejection? He loved us. And that means he loves everyone who rejects him. Even us. When we decide that we want to be of our own self, when we decide that we want to make our own decisions, when we decide that our feelings are more important than the word, and ultimately reject God. Jesus died for that too. Jesus died for you too. And so what we have to understand is that if you are choosing to understand that the world rejected Jesus, and when you are choosing to follow Jesus, understand that the world is going to reject you also.

4. The World Is Going to Reject You Also

John chapter 15, verse 20. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me.

Deciding to follow God means deciding a life that is not of the social norm of today. Many people can view you as living differently as a wrong thing. Those who are not of the faith, but Jesus says, if you keep my word, they’ll keep your word also. Although many rejected Jesus, we have to understand in the world there were people who accepted Jesus. But many worldly people want you to be like them, they want you to roll with what they rolled with. And when you make that decision that you don’t want to be like them, they look at you differently. Look at 1 Peter chapter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4. Beginning in verse 2, it says that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lust of man, but for the will of God.

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime and doing the will of the Gentiles. When we walked in lewdness, lust, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it is strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

But whether people speak good about you or whether people speak bad about you, understand that when you choose to follow God, they will talk.

5. How Will We Handle This Rejection? We Rejoice

And so you need to know well, how will we handle this rejection? Look at Matthew chapter 5. In Matthew chapter 5, beginning in verse 11, Jesus is giving a sermon on the Sermon on the Mountain and is given the Beatitudes. And in verse 11, it says, Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake? Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.

But we are blessed. We are blessed. Verse 11 begins the very first word that Jesus says, Blessed are you when you are reviled and persecuted? We are fortunate, we profit off of being persecuted. We will be slandered harshly because we refuse to conform to the world.

Maybe life is taken too strictly, according to the Christian. And no matter what we decide, we have to remember that wearing the name of Jesus is a great thing. How do we handle this?

We rejoice.

This is the commandment that you have that you love one another as I have loved you. How do we handle this rejection? How do we handle this persecution? We rejoice. Let my joy remain in you. And when we let Jesus’ joy remain in us, we ultimately show them who Jesus is. We love.

Especially when people are not being easy to love. It takes work for us to share the love that Christ shared for everybody. And even when those who do not want the love, we still have to give the love. But when we decide to walk this path, when we decide to love, we’re breaking through and showing people Christ. And that’s important. We need to show them that Jesus really wants them, that God really wants them, and that we really want them to be with God. When we wear the name follower, we have to understand that we need to prioritize God. Prioritize God. Seek God. While you are handling this rejection, seek God in the kingdom. And here are some things we need to do. We need to prioritize our time with God, avoiding distractions.

Approach Him with a genuine desire and humility. Talk with God on a daily basis. Bring Him your needs. Praise Him for what He’s done and give thanks for everything He will do and has done. Serve others in the local body and serve others out in the world. Study passionately the Bible. Seeking God when you are facing rejection means you are seeking this relationship that will build. It’s an ongoing journey of drawing near to him with a sincere heart and prayer service and study. Look at 1 John chapter 2. Beginning in verse 15. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he does he who does the will of God abides forever.

6. Remain in the Joy of Jesus

You choose to follow Jesus, so the world will reject you. But God has let us, God has let us know that the world is temporary. But when you decide to stick with God, it’s okay. It’s alright. Look at John chapter 16. John chapter 16, beginning in verse 20 says, Most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come. But as soon as she has given birth to the child, she will no longer remember the anguish for joy that a human has been born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take away from you.

But there’s joy.

Certain ways to remind us to remain in the joy of Jesus. And one of the ways that we can remain in the joy of Jesus is understanding that we have the brethren.

The brethren are important to this rejection that the world faces us. Number one, because the brethren of the local body and of the church also accept Jesus. And because they accept Jesus, they will be rejected too. But look around. Look left and right. There’s people everywhere. There’s people in this building, there’s people out there. There are friends all over the country. The brethren are here, and the brethren keep you strong. We reach out to people who are maybe not doing well, who maybe feel sick, who maybe are traveling. We reach out to them because we care for them, because this is a family. Everyone’s life is different. I can’t understand a lot of your problems because I don’t go through them. And you can’t understand a lot of mine.

But that’s okay.

Therefore, I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you. Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit here. And when the Holy Spirit is coming, the Holy Spirit comes to bring the word. The Holy Spirit is coming to guide in truth. And he’s coming to speak what he’s heard from God. Psalm 119, verse 105 says, The word is a lamp to the feet and a light to your path. And what does that honestly mean? I mean, the obvious answer is yes. God’s word guides us. Of course, God’s word will always guide us. But we need to dive a little deeper. The word can save our soul. The word is implanted in us. The Holy Spirit will implant the word in us according to James chapter 1.

The word also produces a rebirth and spiritual growth. 1 Peter 1 tells us that. It equips us with what we need to know to go out and do the work. 2 Timothy 3. And the word is living, the word is powerful, and the word is piercing, according to Hebrews 4. And this is the word that is powerful. This is the Holy Spirit that is giving us what to say to a broken world. We need to stand out as lights. We need to speak what God has given us to speak.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t help them run into the arms of our Lord. After we have just gone over all that we can do, all we have to remember with the word. We need to understand that the word not only equips us for the work, but the word helps us. I did an internship last year in Livingston and Lutz, Tampa, at the congregation at Livingston. And on my first day of that internship, one of the preachers there told me, I just want you to read your Bible. And when you’re doing a preacher internship program, of course, yeah. You need your Bible. You got lessons, you got sermons, you got classes, individual studies. There’s a lot of reasons why you need your Bible. But he’s he says, no, no, I don’t want you to read your Bible because you have a lot of stuff to do.

He says, I want you to read your Bible to focus on the personal conversation with you and God. When you sit and listen to what God says to you, not because you have to, but because you want to.

Sometimes we have to get stuff done. Sometimes we have to get this class made. Sometimes we have to get this these talks done. But sometimes when we’re all stressed out and we’re going through our life and we’re facing these problems time after time after time, this simple reminder to just say, I have you’re wonderful. And within that word, within the word that God has given us, he lets us know we have a home. Look at John chapter 14. In John chapter 14, beginning in verse 1.

Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s houses are many mansions. If it weren’t not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. That where I am, there you also may be. And where I go, you know, and the way you know. Jesus lets us know that after this temporary life, that after these trials and tribulations, after this rejection that we’re going to face as Christians, we have a place that He has prepared. And Jesus says, In my Father’s house, there are many mansions. I love that Jesus describes it as many mansions, but I want us to think about it.

I don’t think Jesus is just saying, Heaven’s full of big houses.

It is a very peaceful place. It is a very serene place. And you know how to get there.

Conclusion

Look at John chapter 16, verse 33. These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. In me, you will have peace. In me, you have a hope of heaven. In Jesus, all things are done. In Jesus, we have forgiveness. We have to come to God through Jesus. It’s simple, brothers and sisters. The day is coming. The day is coming when you will be separated. The day is coming when God is coming to receive his children. And no matter what, God’s won. God has already won, and he always will win. But we can have that victory also. That victory comes when you no longer want to be a slave to this world that rejects you and you want to be a slave to God.

Give your life to the Most High. You are loved, brothers and sisters, and God wants you with him, but He’s not going to force you to be with Him.

We are very undeserving of the love and blessings that God has given us. But when you read the Word, when you see what Jesus did, you understand how much love God has. While the world rejects us, we need to reject sin. And understand that rejection is okay because Jesus has won. And so I invite you this morning. If you’re here today and you’re not a Christian, if you’re here today and you understand that the world has rejected you, if you’re here today and you want to reject sin, we can help you this morning. We can baptize you in water. Or maybe you have decided to reject sin. Maybe you have decided that you don’t want to live a life of sin. Maybe you decided, maybe you stumbled.

We can pray for you. If there’s any way that we can help you this morning, won’t you come forward as we stand and sing the song of invitation?