A Man Of Sorrows: Understanding Rejection From the Life of Jesus & the Cross

Introduction

Jesus was perfect and was still rejected.

It doesn’t matter how you look, behave, or what your status is. Unfortunately, in this world you will be rejected.

The world has put unhealthy and unrealistic expectations on our society. They will tell you who you are and what you should be in their own eyes. If you don’t fall into the box people put you in, you will receive criticism, rejection, animosity, or even be viewed as an outcast. If you don’t fit the standard or if you choose to go against the status quo, you will lose everything.

On the other hand, if you fit the standard of who they think you should be, you will live and receive everything this world has to offer you. It will offer fame, wealth, and counterfeit happiness when you conform to the patterns of this world. It’s all about perception.

How Rejection Has Shaped My life

Since I was a child I have experienced rejection in all forms. It left a God-sized hole in my heart that only God could fill. Throughout the years, the Lord has brought perspective to the pain I’ve felt from people. I was broken down by people’s words that seemed to have pierced my heart. Those whom I loved deeply betrayed me. People I cared about mocked and abused me. I felt unwanted, rejected, and forgotten.

Jesus came into my life and changed everything. He picked up the pieces of my heart and transformed me from the inside out. He demonstrated agape love that held no shame. He picked me up from the pit and changed my name to beloved. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the cross and the sacrifice Jesus bore to save my life.

The closer I lean into Him, the more I receive the revelation of the Man of Sorrow well acquainted with grief. As I draw near to the cross, I see a Man who understands me in all my ways. The fear of the Lord has become greater than the fear of rejection. It has washed me of my insecurity and led me to a picture of hope for better days ahead. God has brought a family from the body of Christ that have shown me a greater love I never knew could be possible.

The Life of Jesus and the Cross

Jesus lived a perfect life as a perfect man. He knew no sin and gave us a blueprint for how we could live a blameless, holy life. He lived a life of radical obedience, surrender, and intimacy with the Father. He came to do the Father’s business and never strayed from God’s will.

Jesus unapologetically came down to earth as Himself. He didn’t conform to the patterns of this world but He laid it all on the table and said, “Take it or leave it.” He knew that His identity was in God and He was a citizen of Heaven. Therefore, He didn’t have to follow the self-seeking standards of the world.

Despite the perfection of Jesus, He was still rejected by the world. Jesus was mocked, beaten, ridiculed, and murdered because He didn’t fit the standard of who they thought the Messiah should be in man’s perception. The very people whom He created rejected Him.

Can you imagine?

It’s like having children whom you love so dearly but being rejected by them in adulthood. To love someone so much and create her with intention, just to have her despise, betray, and kill you. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to think about.

Jesus felt unfathomable pain to be rejected by those whom He gave His life for. The very people whom He created, loved, and died for are the very ones that took Him to the cross. They spread false narrative about His character and didn’t receive the revelation of who Jesus truly was with awestruck wonder. They couldn’t see through the eyes of love and see what the Father saw.

They couldn’t see the smile that Jesus had or the laugh that lit up a room. They missed how gracious and patient Jesus had been toward those who persecuted Him. The compassion and mercy of Jesus towards the lost, broken, and marginalized was taken for granted. The pain Jesus felt when He wept for Lazarus before He raised Him from the dead was overlooked. The steps Jesus took to come near and love them rightly was covered by condemnation. The couldn’t see that the joy set before Jesus was them. He went great lengths to come down from His throne in heaven leaving all that He had, live on earth as a human, dying a brutal death just to be near to His creation forever. He was willing to freely give up His life as a sacrifice for the entire world so that we may live in eternal life with Him!

Loving like Jesus

Jesus never wavered in His faith when His mortal body had given its last breath. He never stopped loving those who persecuted Him. He never stopped searching for the lost ones. He never said a word when people mocked him. He turned the other cheek. Jesus is the revelation of agape love. A love that knows no bounds and has no end. It reaches to the heavens and searches the depths of the sea. One that is unconditional and perfect.

This glorious love is offensive to our flesh. We have been wired to hate our enemies and take matters into our own hands. Jesus preaches forgiveness, love, mercy, and compassion. It goes against the very things we see in this world today.

A New Family

You have been adopted into a new family. God has chosen people who will walk with you on the same path towards the cross. Only those who have been given this revelation of Christ have eyes to see you rightly as you were created to be. They will love you as God designed and intended them to for your benefit. They won’t put false narratives on you or expectations that the Lord never spoke over you. They will love you as you are in Christ.

Conclusion

Oh Beloved, only Jesus knows how you feel.

He felt the pain in your heart when people have made you feel unwanted, rejected, unseen, unworthy, and not chosen.

He bore it all so that you could receive healing and restoration.

Jesus took on the weight of the sin of the world. He took our punishment so we could have peace. He took on our rejection so we can have healing. His wounds were for every single person’s pain and suffering on this earth.

Jesus knew rejection more than anyone else. He felt the fullness of the pain that followed being rejected by those you love. The cross is where He laid His head in unimaginable sorrow. Jesus died of a broken heart. He allowed His heart to break so that you could be healed and whole. This is where He learned what it truly meant to be human as He carried the weight of the world on His shoulders.

Call to action

If you would like to step into a deeper revelation of the Cross and how you can understand rejection from the life of Jesus, join a safe space where you can heal with other women today. Created To Be Loved offers weekly inner-healing workshops and coaching sessions.