“I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing. You’ll be OK.” Those are comforting words when someone who has gone through the same situation reassures us. The ‘situation’ can range from the loss of a loved one, a medical diagnosis, a medical procedure, a temptation, a rejection, etc. The ‘someone’ might be a family member, a friend, or a total stranger. Regardless ‘someone’ always includes Jesus. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all-all but the sin (Heb 4:15 MSG). Christ became fully human and experienced every feeling we will ever encounter.
We tend to focus on His physical sufferings as the pain of the crucifixion, hunger, thirst, and temptations. Yet, the greater suffering was probably His emotional pain. By taking upon Himself the nature of a man, He understands our emotions. He emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. (Php 2:7NET). Imagine what took place in His mind and the emotions he felt when He was praying in the garden just prior the crucifixion. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luk 22:44 NIV). The Amplified Bible translates the word anguish as an agony of mind. The word, used only here, means agitation of mind, or a struggle of the mind versus a physical battle. This pain happened in His thoughts. The time was early spring when the temperature was still cool but Jesus was sweating. Dr. Luke used medical terminology describing the physical results of His mental anguish, His sweat was like drops of blood. This was a rare phenomenon, Hematidrosis, and occurs only during times of the extreme mental distress.
Jesus knew from the prophecies of Isaiah the actions of men and the resulting painful emotions He would endure. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isa 53:3 NIV). Despised and rejected were acts of men toward Jesus. Despised means to hold in contempt, disdain, or to be viewed as vile and worthless. Rejected implies he was not reckoned among men, but regarded a worm, not a man. People viewed Him as a madman, one that had a demon and someone not to be heard. Put yourself in His place for a moment. How would you feel emotionally if people thought of you this way and men hide their faces and wouldn’t even look at you? What would be going through your mind?
A major recurring act of men toward Jesus, which we all experience, was rejection. He was rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes (Mk 8:31). The word means to put a person to the test for the purpose of approving him should he meet the specifications laid down. The religious leaders of Israel put Jesus to the test for the purpose of approving Him as Messiah. But He did not meet their specifications. He was not the kind, of a Messiah the Jews wanted. They disallow His claim and declared Him useless. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him (Joh 1:11). Again put yourself in His place and imagine how He felt.
Four times the New Testament writers quote Psalms 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. In other words rejected by men but still approved and accepted by God. This is a key when we face rejection. For us it occurs when others refuse to grant us recognition or accept who we are, won’t conform to tradition, forgive our failures, and discard us as being worthless. It happens almost daily and begins early in life: you’re the last one picked to play ball; not invited to a party; not accepted in a college; turned down for a job; refused a loan; rejected by your children; a spouse wants a divorce; passed over for promotion; etc. This list has no end.
The first step in dealing with any rejection is knowing Jesus is with us and saying, “I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing. You’ll be OK.” He suffered emotional anguish to understand our feelings and help us in our times of pain. Second, rejection by man is meaningless if God’s favor is upon you. Overcoming rejection depends on your self-identity and what you base your identity upon. Are you seeking acceptance from others and what people think of you or are you resting in your acceptance by God and His purpose for your life? When hurtful events happen, give it to the Lord and move on.
Who? What? Where? & Why? These have always been the questions I asked when I studied the Gospel. Study for this SW has shown me new questions we should ask, what was He thinking and what emotion was He feeling? This will help us further appreciate what He has done for us.
Sustaining Word for the Week: He’s telling you, “I know how you feel? I went through the same thing. Let me help you.”