Every person is born with an inherent need for acceptance. When we are rejected, it wounds us at our core. Rejection is a knife that plunges deep into the heart, often resulting in depression, anxiety, or insecurity.
When you're rejected, you often wonder, “What’s wrong with me?” This is especially true when rejection comes from someone you care deeply for or are close to.
Rejection is an unfortunate reality in this world. It doesn't matter how good, amazing, or flawless a person is, or how hard he or she tries to ‘measure up.’ In the world we live in, there are people who find (or create) reasons to reject others.
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?' they asked. ‘What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.' He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village." (Mark 6:1-6, NIV)
Jesus was the only perfect person who ever walked this earth, and even He was rejected. How painful it must have been for Him, to be disregarded and discounted by those He grew up with.
The ones who should have been the most inspired by His anointing and calling were in fact desensitized to His greatness because of familiarity. When they looked at the Messiah, they pictured the young boy running through the streets, the adolescent learning carpentry from Joseph, the plain and ordinary man.
Instead of readjusting their perception of Him, they rejected Him. They took offense at him. They didn’t believe in Him.
Consequently, Jesus couldn’t do miracles there. He could only do a few healings. There was so much greatness within Him – His power was as strong as ever – but His relatives and neighbors lacked the faith to receive from Him. Ouch.
A case could be made that Jesus already knew that His friends, family members, and neighbors would reject Him. He was the Divine in the flesh, wasn’t He? So He must have been omniscient, and thus expectant of such a situation. Right?
I think not. I don’t disagree that God is omniscient; however, there is a phrase in this passage that leads to a different conclusion: “He was amazed at their lack of faith.”
How could something Jesus already knew would happen amaze Him when it happened? The primary definition of ‘amazement’ is surprise or astonishment. If Jesus was amazed by the way these people reacted to Him, then (by definition) He was not expecting such a response. And that means it probably hurt. A lot.
Jesus, the Perfect One, the One who did everything right, the One who walked in full obedience to the Father, knew rejection (perhaps better than anyone). He experienced the pain of it. He understood, and understands, the sting of it. He lived through it.
But look at what Jesus did in response to the rejection He encountered: “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” He didn’t throw a fit. He didn’t retreat, isolating Himself from people. He didn’t close off His heart to shield it from potential future hurts. He didn’t tear into those who spoke ill of Him and didn’t believe in Him.
Jesus carried on. He continued His mission. He pressed into what the Father had called Him to.
Though Jesus felt the weight and the pain of rejection, He chose not to let it define Him. He may have felt rattled, but He remained unshaken. He stood firm in who He was.
I believe the reason Jesus could do this was that He knew the fullness of His acceptance in His Father. He depended on the source of His identity, the One who had called Him, the One who always had open arms for His Son. Jesus knew deep within Himself that He was accepted by the only One whose opinion really mattered.
Secure and settled as a Son, Jesus was able to brush off the rejection of the world, and even the rejection of His family, and move forward with determination and resiliency.
People can (and likely will) reject you. They'll reject you based on anything and everything: your appearance, your style, your personality, your job, your social class, your upbringing, etc. You can either live unfazed by rejection or tormented by it. The choice is yours.
There is good news: the rejection of the world cannot compare to the acceptance of Jesus. If you let Him be the source of your identity, instead of basing your value on others' opinions of you, you will become free from the effects of rejection. You'll be able to walk in courage and boldness because no matter what any person thinks of you, you'll know the truth of what your Father says about you.
You are worthy, loved, strong, and enough. You don't have to ‘measure up’ to the standard of the world; simply accept the love of your Father. His arms are always open to you. He will never reject you. He loves you and accepts you without reserve. You can live confident and free in the One who made you and fully accepts you.
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