What To Do When You Feel Rejected (Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4)
Have you ever felt misunderstood or rejected for doing the right thing? Jesus did too, yet he stayed faithful to his mission and calling.
Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-37; Mark 1:21-28
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Have you ever felt rejected?
Jesus certainly did. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath day, opens a scroll, and quotes from Isaiah 61:1-2, saying:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
These statements are a summary of Christ’s life and ministry. As Craig Evans writes, “Of all the passages in this Gospel this one is of critical importance and must be understood well if we are to appreciate the evangelist’s theological perspective and major purpose for writing.”[1] In Jesus' day, synagogue worship was a central aspect of Jewish religious life. Synagogues served as places for prayer, reading, and teaching of the Torah. Services typically included recitation of the Shema, prayers, reading from the Torah and the Prophets, and a sermon or teaching. “The leader of the service stood to pray and read, but sat to teach. Any competent person present could be invited to take part.”[2]
Jesus does just this, but it’s his actions after reading from Isaiah that grab his listeners’ attention. Verses 20-21 say, 20 “He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, ‘Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.’” The people immediately respond, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Because they knew Jesus and the low means from which he came, it was unfathomable to them that he was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. After responding that no prophet receives honor in his hometown, Jesus makes a strong analogy by pointing to Elijah and Elisha. As Craig Evans writes:
That he singled out these two figures is particularly appropriate since Elijah was regarded as the prophet of the last days who would prepare the way for the Messiah (see Mal. 3:1; 4:5–6). If the last days are truly at hand, then the Elijah/Elisha tradition would surely bear some relevance. Jesus recounts in vv. 25–26 the incident in which Elijah provides an unending supply of food for a Gentile widow and her son (1 Kings 17:8–16) and yet makes no such provision for any Israelite. In v. 27 Jesus tells of the incident in which Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian army officer of the dread disease leprosy (2 Kings 5:1–14; see Luke 5:12–14). In the minds of his Jewish listeners it was offense enough to be reminded that Elijah ministered to a poor Gentile widow, but it was intolerable to be oppressed by Roman occupation and then be reminded that Elisha healed a soldier of Syria, a country which had oppressed Israel in an earlier time.[3]
Jesus is, as N.T. Wright remarks, “rescuing the wrong people.”[4] And for those listening, this is a bridge too far. As a result, they reject his message and try to throw him off a cliff.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for your anointing on Jesus, who came to preach good news to the poor and set the captives free. Thank you for fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and bringing recovery of sight to the blind and freedom to the oppressed. Your compassion and truth shine brightly in a world that often rejects and misunderstands you.
Release | I release my feelings of rejection and disbelief, just as Jesus faced in his hometown. Help me let go of any doubts about your calling and purpose in my life. I surrender my fears and insecurities, trusting in your divine plan and protection.
Ask | I ask for the strength and courage to stand firm in my faith, even when faced with rejection or opposition. Fill me with your Spirit so I may boldly proclaim your good news and offer hope to those around me. Grant me the wisdom to follow Jesus' example and stay committed to my true vocation.
Yield | I yield to your will and embrace the mission you have set before me. Guide my actions and words as I strive to bring your light and love to others. I commit to living out your teachings and trusting in your protection, even in the face of adversity.
