When the days drew
near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent
messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to
make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face
was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they
said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume
them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village” (Luke 9:51-56).
Only Jesus knew what “taken up” (analēmpsis:
receive up) really meant. His sovereignty is revealed in the revelation
that He knew the climactic days of His earthly life and ministry were
approaching. The spotless sacrificial Lamb of God was soon to be received up by
the father on behalf of sinners… “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The taking up of Christ
involved surrendering to the cruelty of man, suffering the abuse and
crucifixion of Calvary, and submitting to time in the grave before ascending in
glory to His Father in heaven. Yet, without any hesitation, Jesus “set
His face to go to Jerusalem”. As Christ and His disciples were rejected
by some Samaritan villagers, we learn that the cross and the rejection of
Christ were unavoidable. Together they presented another opportunity for Jesus to
prepare His disciples for the gospel preaching and disciple making work that
was ahead of them. Today we learn how to deal with the unavoidable suffering
and rejection that will come our way when we earnestly seek to imitate Christ
and reflect the love that endures rejection.
The Savior’s suffering was unavoidable.
The Spirit inspired Paul to exhort us to make knowing Christ the priority of
our heart… “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing
worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). He went on to
say that knowing Christ came through the inseparable experiences of His
resurrection power and sharing in His suffering… “that I may know him and
the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him
in his death, that by any means possible
I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11). If
you’re like me, you aren’t attracted to suffering. In fact, most of us avoid
suffering at all costs. But Jesus’ determined journey through suffering and
death on the way to a glorious resurrection inspires us to enter into His
suffering when we encounter it in the lives of others, so we might also bring
the power of His resurrection into their lives. The Spirit inspired Paul to
pray that we might know and share this resurrection power that is so closely
connected to Christ’s suffering… “And what is the immeasurable greatness
of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his
right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19-20). Effective
disciples are willing to fellowship in Christ’s suffering.
The Samaritans’ scorn was unnerving.
The Samaritans had an inbred disdain for the Jews that had rejected and
persecuted them for centuries. Their rejection of the Messiah’s focus on
Jerusalem was as understandable as the defensive reaction of James and John
that earned them the nickname Sons of Thunder… “James the son of Zebedee
and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is,
Sons of Thunder)” (Mark 3:17). But Jesus seized the opportunity to
show the unconditional love of God to these unloved Samaritans and to initiate
a transformation in the hearts of James and John… “But love your enemies,
and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great,
and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the
evil” (Luke 6:35). Earnest disciples overcome rejection with the
unconditional love of Christ.
The disciples’ schooling was urgent.
Just as suffering and rejection is ever-present for serious disciples committed
to preaching the gospel and making disciples, so too is Jesus Christ ever
present to grant discernment and victory in every trial… “Behold, I am
with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Maturing
disciples let suffering and rejection drive them closer to the Savior.
As we grow up into Christ and we engage
the world with His gospel, we will be challenged to reflect…
The Love that Endures Rejection.
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