Read: Mark 6:1–6a
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judah and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Mark 6:3
If you look closely at Jesus’ life and ministry, you will see a pattern of rejection. Herod tried to eliminate the baby Jesus by force, the scribes and Pharisees tried to denounce Jesus by utilizing Jewish law and tradition, the people of Jesus’ hometown who knew Him best seemed to doubt Him most, and, of course, in the end, Jesus was tortured and killed like a criminal by the Roman and Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. Jesus seemed to encounter rejection at every turn.
What the world and worldly authorities reject, however, God often uses to inspire and transform. As Jesus Himself quoted, the stone the builders reject can wind up being the cornerstone that anchors an entire structure. The world may have rejected Jesus, but Jesus still saved the world. Maybe the next time we encounter rejection we should not become demoralized by it but assume it is but a prelude to an even greater work of God.
When have you been rejected?
Lord, no one likes rejection, but it is part of life. Jesus experienced it, so why would we assume we would be able to avoid it? We can’t, but we can refuse to be deterred by it. Moments of rejection were not the end for Jesus but the beginning of something new and enlivening—resurrection occurred only after rejection! Help me to persevere when I experience obstacles and objections, trusting that what the world rejects You just might rejoice in. In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN.