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Meanwhile, as Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, a servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said.

Matthew 26:69-70Matthew 26:69-70
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus ⁶⁹ While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus from Galilee.” ⁷⁰ But in front of everyone Peter said, “That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!”

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Meanwhile, the leading priests and other leaders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So when the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” the crowd shouted back their reply: “Barabbas!”

“But if I release Barabbas,” Pilate asked them, “what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
And they all shouted, “Crucify him!”

Matthew 27:20-22Matthew 27:20-22
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
20 But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. ²¹ Pilate asked the crowd again, “Which of these two men do you want me to set free?” “Barabbas!” they replied. ²² Pilate asked them, “What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?” They all yelled, “Nail him to a cross!”

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Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his. And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “So! You can destroy the Temple and build it again in three days, can you? Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

Matthew 27:38-40Matthew 27:38-40
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
38 The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left. ³⁹ ; People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and ⁴⁰ ; . shouted, “So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

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I’m sure you can identify with the pain of rejection that Jesus was feeling in each of the instances above. If you think back to the last time you were rejected, you can surely relate to the sting of hurtful words. Rejection is painful no matter when it happens, but it is especially hurtful under the sort of circumstances Jesus was facing.

In the first passage above, Jesus experienced rejection by someone who was very close to Him, someone He loved and in whom He had invested a lot of time. Though Jesus was completely divine while walking the earth, He was also completely human and therefore not exempt from the agonies sometimes associated with human relationships. When Peter denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times, imagine how that must have hurt Jesus. Sure, He knew that Peter was not only going to deny being His close friend, but that he would denounce even knowing Him at all. Jesus told Peter he would deny Christ before it ever happened. But, did Jesus’ omniscience negate his pain? Surely not. In time, after the resurrection, Jesus and Peter’s relationship was restored, but have no doubt there were days in there when Peter’s rejection of Christ must have hurt our Lord.

Peter’s was a personal rejection of Jesus…how about the very public rejection Jesus endured in the second passage? Here He is, an innocent man, paraded before this mob that the leading priests (of all people) are stirring into a riotous frenzy! The governor is carrying out his custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover, and he gives the crowd the choice of setting either Jesus or Barabbas free. Can you imagine the rejection Jesus was feeling when the crowd starts chanting “Barabbas, Barabbas?” They would rather have this hardened criminal released and roaming the streets of Jerusalem than the Son of God!! How would that have impacted you if you were in Jesus’ place? Would you have stood there quietly and meekly, or would you have been going out of your mind? A private rejection is one thing, but a very public one takes on another dimension altogether! How would you have fared that day?

The third passage from Matthew 27:38-40Matthew 27:38-40
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
38 The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left. ³⁹ ; People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and ⁴⁰ ; . shouted, “So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

WP-Bible plugin is a public rejection too, but it carries another distinction: It was an outright insult and rejection to the deity of Jesus. While He’s hanging on the cross, completely omnipotent and capable of releasing Himself at any second from the nails and spikes holding Him to that tree if He so chose, here come the mockers, taunting Him. “Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” Can you even begin to fathom the love that Jesus demonstrated by staying on that cross when anyone of us would have been thinking, “That’s it! I’ll show you who’s God!!” As those unbelievers and mockers sauntered past the cross, within inches of the most powerful being in the universe, they had no idea that the only thing holding Him to that cross was an incomprehensible love for the very ones who were rejecting Him!! In His dying words he said, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” WOW!!!! Instead of flying off the cross, He forgave!! Incomprehensible!!!

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Spend a few moments pondering the scenes described in the book of Matthew and try to empathize with Jesus. How must He have felt?

• How would you have reacted differently from Jesus?
• What can you learn from Jesus’ example about responding to rejection and in how to avoid making others feel rejected?

prayer

Thank You, Jesus, for all the rejection you endured so that I could be accepted by Your Father. Truly I am forgiven because You were forsaken. I could never do enough to express my gratitude, but I want to spend the rest of my life saying “Thank You” for all You’ve done for me!