By: Juliet Constantine

"Then Jesus cried out and said, 'He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.'” (John 12:44-45 NKJV)
 

Rejection is never easy for the one who is rejected, especially when the rejection is from your very own. There are many types of rejection: but for today, we will only look at social rejection. Wikipedia described social rejection as “an interpersonal situation that occurs when a person or group of people excludes an individual from a social relationship”. This action has a devastating effect on the psyche (mind) of the person being rejected. The message reverberating in their heads is, “You are not wanted here!”

Jesus experienced social rejection of the highest form. “He came to His own and His own received Him not.”

His very own creation didn’t want Him around. The very ones whom He came to save wanted Him dead. He happily fed them, taught them about their Father in Heaven, and showed them a better way to live. Still, they did not want Him and they made it known. He told them stories of a King who send his servants, and eventually His son to some unfair employees who rejected and killed them all. The people thought those employees were unfair; but here they were, doing the very same thing and didn’t even realize it. Or did they? Did they think twice?

Jesus, seeing their unbelief, both the people and the authorities, tried desperately to help them to believe when He said in crying tones: “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me." They believed in God and His promise to send them the Messiah. Why wouldn’t they believe that He was the Messiah? Didn’t they see God in Him? Didn’t they realize that if they rejected Him and His works, they were also rejecting God? What more could He do for them to believe that He was the promised Messiah? Why weren’t they thinking twice?

Will you reject Him too?

Like the Jewish nation of old, God has sent many evidences for you to believe in Him. If you reject the Bible, there is nature which speaks so loudly of the One, bigger than you and me, who holds this world in space. No scientist can explain God’s complex creation and maintenance system. The Darwin theory is just that – a theory... that has been pulled apart and found wanting. But God’s creation still stands a mystery to the most brilliant minds. God is and will always be God. Outside of God, you cannot explain why you bloom like a flower in the morning, then grow whiter and die like the grass in the evening. You cannot keep yourself forever young and free from dying. Only God can give eternal youth and eternal life. Think twice!

If you can embrace this truth, then you should embrace His words which are able to make you wise unto salvation. You place belief in man. Why not believe in the God who made man!? Believe in God and you will prosper. Do not be stubborn like the Jewish nation of old. If you do, then their faith will also be yours – rejection of the worst kind – their heavenly responsibility given to others. Though they once possessed the oracles of God, possession did not help them. They chose to reject God’s son and as a result, many Jews are eternally lost. Think twice about rejecting God’s truth for your life. Think twice!

Our Heavenly Father, You are the giver and sustainer of life. Thank You for another opportunity to accept You and Your will for our lives. Please help us to accept all Your truths, not just part. This is our prayer, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)