There are many forms of rejection in our world today.
Rejection hurts because it taps into deep fears and insecurities, seemingly redefining our status or identity.
For a young boy, it may be that he is always the last one picked for every game. An adult man or woman may be the victim of adultery and a painful divorce. For a worker, it may be a complete lack of recognition or promotion at work, despite all efforts. For teens and young adults, it may be the crush who says ‘no.’ Most forms of rejection force the rejected to look at themself. The worker ponders all their accomplished tasks compared to their colleagues; a divorcee wonders what he or she might have done differently; the lonely studiously observe the lives of others against their own, as recorded on social media.
All kinds of rejection are emotionally painful. Rejection hurts. It hurts because it taps into deep fears and insecurities. Rejection can be agonising. Because it seemingly defines our status or identity. But rejection shouldn’t define us, just as the opinions of others don’t determine our identity. Our identity should instead be rooted in the one who made us and whose work defines us. To resist the temptation to look either inwards or outwards when rejected, let us look upwards, to Christ. For Christ was rejected in ways you and I can never fully understand.
Christ: Qualified and Rejected
Christ is no misunderstood Messiah or mere prophet. He is the Lord of the universe. Rejected.
Christ was rejected despite his qualifications and experience. If anyone has squarely stared rejection in the face, it is Christ. He knows what it means to be rejected by his own. “The stone that the builder rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42). Jesus’ life and works in the Gospels point to him being the only one perfectly qualified for the office of Messiah. Christ had all the credentials. He was without sin, fully obedient to the Father. Christ also ably fulfilled the office of a prophet, regularly being perceived as one. Yet the religious leaders of his day refused to acknowledge him.
When we look at Christ, we see someone who “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6). We see the Son, “for whom and by whom all things exist,” suffering (Hebrews 2:10). Christ is no misunderstood Messiah or mere prophet. He is the Lord of the universe. Rejected.
Your Rejection Pales in Comparison
Christ was not accepted and welcomed by his own for various reasons. His mother, brothers, and sisters didn’t follow him until the end of his earthly ministry. His own brother didn’t believe in him (John 7:5). Some thought he was mentally ill (Mark 3:21). Others who knew him from his childhood in Galilee wanted nothing to do with him.
Jesus was rejected without cause.
There are always reasons behind rejection. Some will be genuine; others little more than lame excuses. But Jesus was rejected without cause. He wasn’t detested because of who he was—or what he did—which was only ever godly and glorifying to God, but despite who he was. All the reasons were invalid, disingenuous, and even deliberately deceitful. Ours, on the other hand, are often mixed up. Both valid and invalid. In other words, it’s possible there are genuine reasons behind your rejection. Whichever it is, look to Christ. Look to the cross.
Rejection, Then Exaltation
Christ’s rejection led to his exaltation (Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 2:9). The reject is risen. Vindicated by God. His comeback is unsurpassed.
Those who’re rejected but in him will also be exalted.
When we’ve been rejected, we might give up. Perhaps you fight back. Others redirect their interests and search out status in other places. But none of these approaches can truly overcome rejection. None of them promise conquest. At best, they’ll be brief victories. Never lasting ones. So we must look to Christ, the one who was rejected for us. On our behalf. Look at Jesus Christ’s rejection. See there both how he carries your own rejection and how relatively small it is.
His rejection was immense, but this only makes his victory even greater. Place your hope in the exalted one, remembering that those who’re rejected but in him will also be exalted.
