Despised and rejected

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

Yet he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

 

Read Luke 9:51—56

This was no ordinary tour, the journey to Jerusalem. I reflect on this tonight: Jesus deliberately, purposefully prepared the way for his journey. He accompanied it with his own commentary. Jerusalem, he said, the Jerusalem of that very time, was drawing upon itself the responsibility for the persecution of all the prophets of God.[1] So he loaded up his movement with immense significance for all history. Here and then the judgement of history was to be enacted. So he prepared each step of the journey. He sent ahead to have a bed ready in Samaria. He was rejected. But he accepted the rejection. When he arrived in Jerusalem it would be the same. He would send ahead to prepare the way.[2] But the rejection then would dwarf the Samaritans’ rejection. Jesus became my Saviour not because he won people’s honour and admiration but because he was the ultimate rejected one.[3]

 

Lord Jesus Christ, I finish the active part of this day, drawn by this reading to reflect on the journey you took, the journey to Jerusalem, such a heavy way. All the way you met with resistance from others. You met with misunderstanding from those you had gathered to go with you. Yet you bore the rejection and you bore with the foolishness and cowardice. You knew the time, the time of God’s visitation in history. You faced the cost, the judgement upon all our histories. You prepared. You prepared the way for my deliverance. Lord, my Lord, Lord Jesus Christ. Truly you are the Son of God.

 

[1] Luke 11:47—51

[2] Luke 19:29—35; 22:7—13

[3] John 1:11—12