Isaiah 53:3 - He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
John 1:10-11 - He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
3 ways Jesus encourages us to respond to rejection
I. Consider Christ’s Control of the Circumstances (v.1-6, 19-24)
A. Jesus plans the perfect place for treachery (v.2)
John 18:2 - Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
Psalm 55:12-14 - For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng.
B. Christ chooses criminal like confrontation (v.3)
John 18:3 - Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Luke 22:52-53 - Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
C. Jesus knows his betrayal and bears it with bravery (v.1, 4)
John 18:1, 4 - When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples…So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
John 10:17-18 - For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.
D. God guides the questioning to reveal his glory (v.4-6)
John 18:4-6 - … Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
II. Look to the Lord of Love in the Face of Denial (v.7-9, 15-18, 25-27)
A. Jesus is a faithful friend to fearful and unfaithful followers
John 18:8-9 - Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”
John 13:1 - Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 17:12 - While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 18:26-27 - One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Luke 22:61-62 - The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
B. Jesus does not retaliate when ridiculed and persecuted
John 18:22-23 - When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”
III. Submit to a Savior Who Suffers for the Sins of Others (v. 10-11, 12-14)
John 18:10-11 - Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
Matthew 26:39 - And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
John 18:12-14 - So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
Intro: Some of you have heard parts of my life story. Let me share with you some of my beginnings. When I was 2 years old my mom walked out on our family. Now I know it was because she was getting beat by my dad and she couldn’t take it anymore and didn’t know what to do. That lead to my dad taking me and my two brothers to live in a car for a short time. Then my dad dropped us off at children’s home only to get us out of the car and take off. I was 2 my brothers were 4 and 6. When you are that age you don’t understand why adults do what they do – you simply feel rejected by the people that you thought loved you.
I am sure that in this room this morning – many of you have experienced rejection in some form or another.
- For some of you – rejection came in the form of a college choice – you really wanted to go to a certain college but you received a letter of rejection that went something like: blah, blah, blah…sorry you can’t come to our college…blah, blah blah. Rejection.
- I applied to one Bible college and I think they just took everyone
The Bible tells us that even Jesus was rejected. Rejected by people from his home town. Rejected by people that he came to the earth to die for. He was rejected by some of the men that he invested the most time in. The gospel of John reminds us how the Jesus was rejected by his own people!
John 1:10-11 – “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
God wants us to Enjoy Life In Christ’s Name…even when we face the wounds of rejection. One great piece of advice I received from a counselor was “don’t let man steal your joy.” "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh. 8:10).
Please open your bibles to John 18:1-24. That is on page 87, in the New Testament in the back of the Bible under the chair in front of you.
Today we will look at how to Following Jesus When Wounded by Rejection
3 ways Jesus encourages us to respond to rejection
Rejection is painful because it reminds us…we can’t control whether someone will choose to accept us and love us even if we want it so badly. The circumstances of rejection are beyond our ultimate control…but not Jesus’s control.
Have you ever been betrayed? It is not fun. This happened to Jesus on more than one occasions but it happens in the passage we will look at today.
Through the rejection and betrayal…
1. Consider Christ’s Control of the Circumstances (v.1-6, 19-24)
John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.
When Jesus had spoken these words v. 1 referring to chapters 14-17 the upper room discourse.
Judas is betraying Jesus here! Well that is not very nice. After all Jesus did for Judas. After all the teachings, after all the miracles performed. Why would Judas do this?
-Do you think God is in control here? Is their ever a time when God is not in control.
My friends God is in these circumstances? Here in John 18 Jesus was in full control over the circumstances leading to the cross.
We could all look at the problems that we are in today as a nation, as a city as a family as a student – God is always in control of this – He will not give us anything that we can’t handle – he will give us a way out
- Friends Jesus was in full control over my life when my parents rejected me.
When you woke up this morning you didn’t say:
- “Today I will chose the path of rejection”
-“Today I hope I get rejected by people.”
-“Today I hope I get a rejection letter from a college or an email rejection letting me know I didn’t get the job”
Nobody goes through all the effort of applying to a job because they want to be denied and would choose that…no one chooses to get married if they knew it would end in a painful divorce.
Yet our Savior.
A. Jesus plans the perfect place for treachery (v.2) (betrayal, rejection)
Jesus finishes the last meal with his disciples in the upper room before his death. He alerts them about the traitor among them, John 13:21 Jesus said - “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
After this Jesus gives final words of comfort and encouragement to the troubled disciples. Jesus prays and then sets out to accomplish the mission that God gave him…that the Son of God, Jesus Messiah will be glorified, lifted up, through his sacrificial death for our sins.
In the meantime, Judas was making plans to betray, to reject Jesus. This isn’t what you want to be famous for. In Matthew 26:15 Judas asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.
The value of those coins in that day would be less than $200.
For $200 Judas would reject the Son of God.
For $200 Judas would betray his friend.
Church let me ask you – what is your price? How much will it take for you to betray Jesus?
My guess is that some of you have been doing this for less than $200.
Don’t Judas Jesus. Don’t reject him for worldly gain.
Don’t Judas Jesus for temporary gain.
What Judas doesn’t know is – Jesus came for this. He didn’t have to give up his friend – Jesus was going to die for the sins of the world anyway.
Jesus does not alter his plans. He goes and does what he normally did praying and meeting with his disciples in the garden.
v.2 - “Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.”
Can you imagine planning to be betrayed in a place where you once shared some of your sweetest moments of fellowship with your closest friends?
Think about the grief that Jesus was going through that night as he contemplated this painful path. And he continued to move toward it.
Not only does Jesus plan the place, consider his control over the situation that…
B. Christ chooses criminal like confrontation (v.3)
God’s Chosen King of the world chooses to be taken into custody as a criminal…he has total control over the way in which he is going to be rejected, taken away, suffer, and die. And God’s plan is that the righteous one, who did no evil, is going to be tried and treated like a criminal.
v. 3 - “Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.”
Notice, that all of this is happening at night under the cover of darkness… Jesus emphasizes the way that they are seizing him is like they are confronting a criminal…Assume the position. Hands up. Put your hands on the steering wheel.
Luke 22:52-53 - Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
-Why is he saying it is yours – he is allowing it to happen. He is allowing himself to be taken. But don’t think for one second that Jesus isn’t in control. He didn’t get caught or surprised – nor does he get caught or surprised when you sin against Him.
Jesus chose this path! He knew that it involved confrontation and it lead to a death sentence of the cross being killed with thieves.
Jesus could have screamed – this isn’t justice…that’s not fair…that’s not true….They are making stuff up about me that isn’t true.” Jesus was in control of the situation, and he knows what it means to be accused or confronted like an evil-doer.
So, Jesus plans the place…he chooses the confrontation…and
C. Jesus knows his betrayal and bears it with bravery (v.1, 4)
He does not run from the rejection and betrayal. He went to face it. He bears it with bravery.
v.1, 4 - “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.” […] “So, Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
Jesus leads and goes to the place he knows Judas will find him. Jesus knowing all the things that were coming upon him….
- The kiss of betrayal
- The abandonment and denials
- The accusations and mocking
- The striking and whipping
- The stripping down and nakedness and humiliation
- The taunting, the pain of the Cross.
- The feeling of suffocation gasping for breath.
- The wrath of God’s justice toward the sins of the world that he cames to take away.
And Jesus goes forward …
This is why the Father loves the Son…Jesus Christ obeys and lays down his life on his own initiative…”
Jesus said is fulfilling his mission that the Father sent him to do. No one can take Jesus’s life from him…with courage he offers up himself to save us from our sins and bring us to God.
John 10:17-18 - “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Jesus’s control is for a purpose…Jesus gets the glory and that people may know who he is…
D. God guides the questioning to reveal his glory (v.4-6)
Did you see who leads the questioning, who takes the initiative?
This scene is perfectly orchestrated by Jesus so that Jesus does the questioning in such a way he reveals who he is….and shows that he is in control and cooperating with his own arrest…
v.4-6 - “… Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So, when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”
Jesus wants them to clearly know that he is Jesus the Nazarene, he is the one that they are seeking.
When Jesus just identifies himself and the soldiers don’t arrest him and fall to the ground…The text just screams Jesus has the power…Jesus is in control…this night of rejection and hour of darkness is under Christ’s authority.
If you knew that the soldiers were coming to arrest you – you might run, find a way to hide or to escape. Jesus is staying. Jesus is accomplishing the Father’s will so that he will be glorified. Jesus stayed because he loved us.
In your rejections can you see that how you respond in a moment of rejection can reveal the glory of Christ in you? Don’t let man steal your joy – Joy comes from the Lord – You can enjoy life in Jesus name.
Second,
2. Look to the Lord of Love in the Face of Denial (v.7-9, 15-18, 25-27)
Rejection is so painful because we are looking for love and acceptance. It is painful because what we expect and hope to happen doesn’t.
When my dad dropped me off at the Baptist Children’s Home – as a 2 year old boy – I just wanted someone to call daddy. I wanted someone to love me. Rejection is painful.
I thought later on that someone would adopt us. We hoped they would choose us, but nobody did. As I grew older I had no choice but to look to the Lord – my heavenly father for love in the face of denial and rejection.
A. Jesus is a faithful friend to fearful and unfaithful followers.
Jesus leads the questioning. It’s him they want and not his disciples. He tells them to let the disciples go free.
v. 8-9 “Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”
That’s our shepherd protecting his sheep. Jesus made promises He will love his disciples and protect his sheep.
Jesus is not vindictive and wanting revenge knowing Peter’s going to deny him three times. He faithfully loves unfaithful followers to the point of death and they will go free on his account.
He knows that they are going to follow at a distance.
He knows the disciples are going to fear being associated with him.
When asked if they know or have been associated with Jesus they deny him.
v. 26-27 - “One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.”
From that day forward when a rooster crowed Peter would remember that he denied Jesus. Sin has consequences.
Luke records the grief and sadness of this moment…
Luke 22:61-62 –“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
You will experience pain when you reject and deny Jesus.
We can relate to Peter can’t we. The shame and sadness of our sin against Jesus. To know that Jesus looks and sees it.
Who would love such unlovely and loveless people?
How amazing is the good news of Jesus Christ? Jesus says
Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Then, notice when Jesus was sinned against.
B. Jesus’s does not retaliate when ridiculed and persecuted.
I remember breaking up many fights in Chicago at my teen center. When the dust settled the story was always the same. Why are you fighting – Because he was saying something about me. Because he hit me first. – So why not come and let me know – No! If they hit me I am going to fight back. Unfortunately, that is what was being taught to those kids – You must retaliate when ridiculed.
Look what happened in…
v. 22-23 - “When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”
Someone hit Jesus in the face. Someone backhanded Jesus – the Son of God in the face. The one that would die for the sins of even that person who hit Jesus in the face. What did he do? Well, the Bible says Jesus gave that guy an upper cut, put him in an arm bar until he tapped out. NO. Jesus does not retaliate sinfully. Jesus with his words challenges for a fair trial to produce witnesses against what he is saying.
When you are rejected, you may want to cry for fairness and justice, but may never get it in this life?
Looking at Christ’s example follow in his steps without returning evil.
When you do this know you…
3. Submit to a Savior who Suffers for the Sins of Others (v. 10-11, 12-14)
Submission that involves suffering is not something we are eager to embrace.
Why should I suffer because of what other people did or choose to do?
Why as a Christian would I choose to submit to the Lord when it may be unpleasant at times.
We need to know we are serving and submitting to a Savior who suffered for our sins.
Jesus knows it’s not easy or comfortable.
We see this in Peter’s response…
v.10-11 – “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So, Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
Peter thinks he should defend Jesus and fight, but to do so is against the purpose for which Jesus came. Jesus is like – Peter, Peter, Peter, no, no, no put the sword down and go sit in the corner.
“Peter – do you think I am not in control of what is happening? Peter I got this. I know what I am doing. I knew they were coming. I know what is coming next.”
Matthew 26:52 – 54 Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (72,000 angels – a legion was 6,000 troops) 54 How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
We can appreciate Peter’s loyalty and his willingness to defend his friend. But Jesus came to accomplish the Father’s will and to bear the wrath of God for our sins on the cross.
Matthew 26:55-56 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this has taken place (why?) to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Jesus is in complete control over the mob that came to get him.
Jesus is not only in complete control over everyone in this story but He is in control over everything.
It wasn’t coincidence – it was God’s providence.
Life is not one big stream of random happenings. God is working in our lives controlling things for his glory and for our good.
Jesus never loses control during this entire story – and he continues to be in control to this day. He is in control right now of what is happening in your life.
When it seems like things are falling apart – God has things falling into place.
Remember in the OT – a guy named Joseph? Joseph’s dad loved him a whole lot, his brothers got upset about it, so they stuck him in a cistern, a hole, sold him into slavery. Potiphar’s wife convinced everyone that he raped her, he got thrown into jail for that – his life seemed that it was out of control – But God used it for good – he had a plan the entire time.
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Whatever situation you find yourself – Trust God. He is in control.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Peter did this on several occasions in this story. He leaned on his own understanding. He got the sword out. He didn’t understand – he needed to trust the Lord.
Don’t trust yourself – do you realize how untrustworthy you are? Have you seen how many times you followed your own way and finally realized that if I would have only trusted in the Lord – it would have been a lot smoother – If I would have allowed God to direct my paths it would be better.
Sometimes I think we forget what we are reading in the Bible – this really happened. The Jesus we sing songs about, preach about really existed and this is the report of what happened. Check out…
v.12-14 – “So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; (Why? Because he) was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.”
This really happened. Soldiers arrested Jesus. Tied him up. Took him to be killed. He experienced rejection during this entire process. Little did they know at the time – it was for the good of all mankind.
Because my mother and father rejected me I was placed in the Baptist Children’s home. While living in at BCH I attended a private Christian school where my 3rd grade teacher shared the love of Jesus with me and I accepted Jesus as my savior. I was rejected but my earthly father but my heavenly father brought me to himself and it is by the grace of God that I am who I am today. If I would have stayed with my dad I don’t think I would have even finished high school – who knows what my life would have been like – God is in control even when we are rejected.
Church, we cannot use the presence of suffering in our life to justify our disobedience and unwillingness to follow Christ’s commands.
May Jesus Christ’s example when betrayed and rejected encourage us to respond differently as his followers.
Don’t Judas Jesus. Don’t Peter Jesus.
Don’t sell out. 30 pieces of silver isn’t a good trade for what Jesus can offer you.
Denying Jesus won’t get your farther than loving and obeying Jesus.
Both Judas and Peter regretted their decision – you will do the same if you reject the truths of God’s word. If you have been rejecting Jesus – this doesn’t mean that God is done with you. As you know – Peter was reinstated.
In John 21 we learn: Peter's restoration was complete with the disciples’ witnessing it. He would need the respect, fellowship, and support of the other disciples. There had been three confessions of love to answer for the three denials of Peter, and there were three commissions from the Lord.
Jesus love for Peter was just as strong and just the same as it was before his denial. We are not loved any less for our failures. Peter did respond to God's calling for his life and was eventually martyred for his faith.
If you have been rejecting God – I pray that you will seek forgiveness and know that you are loved by the God you were rejecting.
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