Being rejected by people

"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)

When I was in college studying psychology, there was a word I learned.  The reason why I haven't forgotten it is because I didn't just learn it academically, but I learned it through life and continue to learn it now.  That word is "Rejection."  Because I've experienced rejection several times both psychologically and in reality during college, the word is familiar to me.  Despite this, honestly, I still don't particularly enjoy being rejected by someone.  Especially, being rejected by those whom I love still troubles me.  That's how much my instinct prefers to receive recognition from people rather than facing rejection.  In the struggle with this instinct of mine, I cling to the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 and speak them to my soul, striving to overcome the instinct that desires recognition from people: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."  To overcome the instinct of wanting recognition from people, I strive to acknowledge God in everything I do.  In the midst of such efforts, the thought arises that in order to acknowledge God in everything, it is necessary to experience rejection from people.  I even think that it is necessary to experience being cast aside by people.

Looking at today's passage, Isaiah 53:3, the prophet Isaiah says of the Messiah (Christ) who was not esteemed by us: "He was despised and rejected by mankind."  And indeed, Jesus Christ was "came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him" (John 1:11).  In other words, Jesus was rejected even by his own people.  Furthermore, Jesus' own people cried out "Crucify him! Crucify him!" when they saw him (John 19:6).  Jesus was rejected even by his own people.  Not only that, Jesus was also rejected by God the Father.  Do you remember the words Jesus cried out on the cross?  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34, Psalms 22:1, 43:2).  Thus, because the only begotten Son Jesus was forsaken by God the Father, you and I have received forgiveness and acceptance.  This means that even though the Father God abandoned the Holy Son to the cross, he does not abandon us.  Those who have received forgiveness and acceptance through God's love are not afraid of being rejected by people.  They are not even afraid of being rejected by their beloved parents and family members.  The reason is that, through Jesus' rejection, they have received forgiveness and acceptance from God.  The reason is that, through Jesus' rejection, they have experienced God's eternal love.  Therefore, they love their neighbors with that eternal love of God.  They forgive and accept even their rejected parents and family members with God's great love.

Pastor John Stott said, ‘The real pain of suffering is not the suffering itself or its unfairness.  It is the apparent indifference of God in the midst of suffering.  Pain is bearable, but the apparent indifference of God is unbearable.’  Being rejected by loved ones cannot be anything but a great suffering.  What makes us even more miserable in such suffering is having the feeling that we have been rejected by God the Father.  Even in such situations, we must think of Jesus Christ, who was rejected by God the Father.  And we must believe that, because of the rejected Jesus Christ, we will not be rejected by God forever, nor can we be rejected.  And in that faith, we must honor Jesus Christ.