Jesus Was Rejected By His Own

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

John 1:11

Today, our world has become polarized by just about everything. Our families and friends are divided over religious beliefs, political persuasions, and healthcare decisions like never before.

For many of us, our stance on such issues may separate us from our family members who are unable to understand our decisions and beliefs. This is hard on everyone. Yet, if we truly believe something, then we should stand for our beliefs, regardless of who accepts them or not.

Yet, life has always been about making tough decisions and standing for what we believe in.

Jesus Is Our Example

I want to remind you about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I want to remind you, that you are never alone in life. Jesus came before us to set an example for us. He taught us how to live, and how to hold onto and stand by an important life decision.

As we consider the verse today, Jesus is the one who “came unto his own, and his own received him not.” His own were the Israelites, His family members who rejected Him, and ensured He was crucified.

Though the promised Messiah had been known since the days of old, many Israelites could not recognize Him for the Savior He would become.

Barabbas Instead Of Jesus

As a prisoner for His beliefs, Jesus was dragged before Pontus Pilate by the chief priests and elders who demanded Jesus be crucified, it was out of sheer envy, (Matthew 27:15-18).

Pilate asked the crowd, ‘Who should be released, Jesus or Barabbas?’

The crowd was persuaded, and Barabbas was released, while Jesus was to be crucified, (Matthew 27:20-21).

We all know the story.

But who were the chief priests and elders, who were the religious leaders of the synagogue?

Let’s read what Peter has to say,

Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Peter is addressing the Israelites.

Acts 3:13-15
13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Peter confirms, Jesus was not only betrayed by His own kin in Judas, but His own family members completely rejected Him, insisting He is crucified.

Yet, before Jesus was rejected and essentially crucified by His own family, Jehovah, God the Father was rejected by His own.

In Acts 7:51-52, we are told the Israelites always resisted God, and persecuted the prophets, just as their fathers had done in the past.

Saul Instead Of God

In 1 Samuel 8, we learn the Israelites rejected God as their King, and demanded Samuel appoint a king from among the people. This hurt Samuel deeply, as He loved our Heavenly Father. So Samuel turned to God in prayer, as we always should, (1 Samuel 8:1-6).

God would answer Samuel saying,

Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 Samuel 8:7

Long before the Son Jesus Christ was rejected by His own family, the Father Jehovah God was rejected by His own People.

Saul would later become, king of Israel, (1 Samuel 9:17).

Summary

So no matter what decisions you have to make in life, no matter who may not like those decisions. Always remember to stand firm for what you believe in; before family, before friends, before colleagues.

The Law of our Heavenly Father is always Just. The words of Jesus Christ are always enlightening, words that brought salvation to us all. Yet, the world does not like those words, some of Christ’s own family despised His words and beliefs, and Christ’s own family, ensured He was crucified for those beliefs.