Rejected Savior, Faithful Friend

“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3

The wounds inflicted by a friend can hurt much worse than those from an enemy. Because the pain is unexpected, it seems to cut much deeper – to hurt much worse. It festers and often takes much longer to heal.

Each of us has experienced rejection or betrayal at some point in our lives. From being the last one picked on the elementary school playground to the deep hurt of abandonment by a spouse or parent, all betrayal and rejection – no matter how big or small, significant or insignificant – hurts. And the deeper the relationship and trust, the deeper the pain can be.

There is no greater comfort in the midst of such pain than the truth that our precious Savior – Jesus Christ – was also betrayed and rejected – even by those closest to Him. Two of His twelve disciples turned their backs on Him. Judas betrayed Jesus for a bag of money, and Peter rejected Jesus out of fear for his own safety. Three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus on the night of His arrest. And Judas, oh how that kiss must have broken Jesus’ heart. His own people also rejected Jesus as they yelled, “Crucify Him!” No one in history has ever been rejected like Jesus was on the cross as God poured out His wrath for our sins on His Son.

When others hurt us, we can have a variety of responses. Perhaps we pull back to protect ourselves from future pain. Or maybe we begin to resist ever trusting others fully again. Perhaps the most damaging response is to let the hurt and anger fester, turning to bitterness and resentment towards the one who hurt us. While natural, none of these responses are the right responses. None of these are the Christlike response.

When I look at Jesus – at the pain and rejection He took because of my sin – I am moved to respond the way He responded, with grace and forgiveness. I am not saying this is easy, but it is possible. Seeing Jesus’ rejection in the Gospel, I am reminded that He died to free me from bondage to bitterness, anger, and sadness. Because of His love and forgiveness to me, I can choose through the power of His Spirit to love and forgive others, even those who wound me deeply. Most of all, looking to Jesus reminds me that He is my most faithful friend – the One who will never reject, hurt, or betray me.

Dear Jesus, You are the most faithful friend I will ever know. Thank You for showing me what it means to forgive, even when I am hurt deeply by others. Thank You for forgiving me when I rejected You. Please give me the strength to love others as You have loved me. In Your Name I pray, Amen.