MESSIAH IS REJECTED

MESSIAH IS REJECTED

Today we continue to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus in Mark's gospel. by looking at some people who chose to reject him.

"It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,  for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1`-2, ESVUK)

It is two days before Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread.   The Chief Priests and Scribes are plotting to arrest and kill Jesus by stealth.  The Feast of Unleavened bread has to do with the story of the Passover.  After killing the firstborn, the Pharoah {Ramases II) agreed to let them go.  But in their haste to leave Egypt, the Israelites did not have time for their bread to rise, so they brought unleavened bread (matzah), that is without yeast because they left Egypt in haste. Their firstborn children were 'passed over' as they fled Egypt and spared death. The angel of death passed over where there was blood on the doorpost. That is why this holiday is called Passover.  The first and last days were to be Sabbaths where no work was to be done. In the book of Leviticus, we read about the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where Jews are commanded to eat unleavened bread for seven days.  It was a sacred occasion.  Jesus observed the Passover and the  Feast of Unleavened Bread. Therefore, Jesus's last Passover meal with his 12 disciples (or Apostles) is known as the Last Supper.  Likewise, the Passover meal is symbolic of Jesus's sacrificial death as the Lamb of God who delivers us from the bondage of sin and death. It commemorates Freedom from slavery.  Thus, the chief Priests were his open enemies who were plotting to kill him.  

It was the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at that feast, he must be crucified.  How spiteful his enemies were who aimed not only to silence him but to stop his progress for the future. Jesus knew what it was like to be rejected.  He had some friends who were kind and who loved him.  One was Simon the leper who had kindly invited him to this house to have supper with him.  There was another friend there, a woman, who anoints his head with expensive perfumed oil.  Notice the Chief Priests and Scribes are stern and full of malice towards Jesus because in their view he is sitting with sinners, the rejects of society.  Their reaction was severe. Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected.  But love keeps going.

Israel's leaders had been longing for centuries for the Messiah yet when he came, His message and manner did not match their expectations and so they decided to kill him.  The severity of their reaction reminds me how hard the human heart can become when it is not in tune with the heart of God.  The two hearts should beat together as one  But just like Pharoah, their hearts were hardened.

How religion scorns a new move of God's spirit.  Jesus was ushering in the new covenant of God with his own blood sacrifice. Messiah healed the sick on the Sabbath and in their eyes broke the old temple laws. Jesus was hated by the Pharisees because he started a revolution of love.  

Lord Jesus, I never want to reject you or your ways.  I love you, Jesus. I ask you to show me today where my values and expectations are not in sync with yours.  Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that my heart and mind remain open to you.

Do I know someone who has stopped following Jesus? Yes.  Who, for whatever reason has turned away from him.

Lord Jesus soften their hearts and call them back to you.  Reveal your power and goodness to them once more.

Are there any parts of Jesus' teaching that I am tempted to avoid or reject?  Such as forgiving someone who has hurt me deeply?  That is tough.  Perhaps I struggle to surrender my ambitions or my finances to God?  Whatever I struggle with Lord, I bring it to you now. 

Lord Jesus I choose to obey your commandments today, even the ones I find challenging.  By your Holy Spirit enable me to do what I cannot do in my own strength.  Lord, you know what it is like to be rejected.  Help me to love like you.

Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23, NIVUK)

I love you my Jesus. Pour your healing ointment of love into the hearts that have been battered and bruised by rejection, including mine.  Jesus has conquered rejection. AMEN.

Sharon

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2024 The Year of the Open Door.

Image
My Prophetic word for 2024.   The Year of the Open Door. I am seeking God about 2024 and I believe it is about going through the open door prophetically speaking and our mouths having that prophetic revelation from God that will be key to taking our promised land for God as we speak it.  Our decrees will be the game changer as we come up higher to God, ascend to the throne room of God, and receive fresh revelation, prophetic insight, and fresh encounters with a holy God. He wants to give us His plans and strategy of what will happen, and what we should do, so we are not to focus on what the devil is doing.  God needs some wartime intercessors to bring God’s solution and miracles to that problem or crisis. We are to war at the gates and take out the strongman (it could be the gates of marriage, relationships, health, finances, and so on) so that the King of Glory can come in. There are 24 hours in the day.  There are also 24 elders around the throne of G...
Read more

Broken Off Branches

Image
 BROKEN OFF BRANCHES Here we see the severity and kindness of God.   Then note and appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s gracious kindness to you—provided you continue in His grace and abide in His kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off (pruned away). (Romans 11:22, AMPC) .  Let us look at the Greek and Hebrew meaning of Kindness.  Chrestotes  in Greek and hesed in Hebrew are most frequently translated into the English word "kindness." Chrestotes, according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary by Spiros Zodhiates, p. 1482, means. benignity, kindness, usefulness The Hebrew word hesed means loving kindness.  It is also similar to grace.  Ḥeseḏ is a Hebrew word that means ' kindness or love between people ', specifically of the devotional piety of people towards God as well as of love or mercy of God towards humanity. Kindness is the way God tr...
Read more

NARCISSISM

Image
A LOOK AT NARCISSISM "Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one's idealised self-image and attributes. The term originated from Greek mythology, where a young man named Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water," (Wikipedia). Narcissists are truly selfish and self absorbed.  They have delusions of grandeur and only care about themselves.  We live in a very Narcissistic culture.  It has to be cancelled by the Kingdom of God culture. You see it in the media all the time.  Here is a list of 9 Traits of a Narcissist and Behaviour to Watch for: Lack of Empathy. A lack of empathy may be the key defining characteristic of a narcissistic person. ...  Manipulative. ...  Projection. ...  Emotionally Cold. ...  Gaslighting. ...  Never Takes Responsibility. ...  Controlling. ...  Grandiose. In stark contrast, Jesus says take up your cross and follow me.  Selfless livi...
Read more