Experiencing Rejection

KEY VERSE: “The High Priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.” —Matthew 26:65,66

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:57-68

THE SCRIPTURAL ACCOUNT states that following Jesus’ betrayal by Judas Iscariot, he was led before Caiaphas the High Priest, with the elders and scribes of Israel also assembled. (Matt. 26:57) This Jewish ‘Supreme Court’ was known as the Sanhedrin, which was made up of seventy priests, scribes, and elders. It was presided over by the High Priest and had jurisdiction in all religious and theological disputes, while the Roman occupation forces governed the secular affairs.

In Matthew 26:58, we see that Peter followed Jesus at a distance. While Peter did not identify himself with Jesus, but, in fact, denied him thrice (vss. 69-75), to his credit, he alone of all the disciples followed after those who had arrested his Master. By inserting this comment about Peter, Matthew reminds us that all Jesus’ disciples fled, leaving Jesus to face trial alone. He was rejected by the leaders of the Jewish people, and forsaken by his closest followers. Surely the fact is evident that the apostles did not yet possess God’s Holy Spirit. Their fleshly minds still controlled their actions, and slavish fear still ruled their hearts.—vs. 56

Verses 59-64 depict the trial of Jesus as a rigged and one-sided affair. The Sanhedrin sought to find testimony against him, and although many people were gathered, no one would speak against Jesus. Finally, two false witnesses came forward. Their only testimony, however, was to take Jesus’ own words out of context and use them against him. So feeble an attempt was their perjury that Jesus did not even answer them. He was silent before his accusers.—vss. 61,62; Isa. 53:7

The High Priest further asked, “Tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” (vs. 63) To this Jesus affirmed, “Thou hast [correctly] said,” adding, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (vs. 64) This was more than the High Priest could take! and he spoke the words of our Key Verses. Certainly now the Sanhedrin had the evidence they needed to do away with this One who so threatened their coveted positions.

Then Caiaphas, the High Priest, turned to the throng. So many of them had crowded around Jesus as he performed miracles and taught among them. Now they rejected him. Perhaps they thought their Messiah would be a great military leader, one who would deliver them out of the hands of the Romans, and reestablish their kingdom in glory as it existed in the days of David and Solomon. But, instead, standing before them they saw Jesus, weak and tired, unwilling to even defend himself, deserted by his closest disciples. Surely, they thought, this must be an imposter.

None realized the real purpose for Jesus’ ministry on earth, which was to give his life “a ransom for all.” (I Tim. 2:6) Jesus was to be a great leader—a great king—but first he had to die as a corresponding price for Adam, paying the ransom for Adam and his posterity. Under this arrangement of God’s plan, the Jews, as well as all mankind, would be guaranteed the opportunity in his coming kingdom to be restored to peace, happiness, health, and perfection of life. Of all this, however, they were in ignorance and in darkness. Not only did the onlookers reject Jesus, but they now mocked him; they spat upon him, and hit him. (Matt. 26:66-68) Their hearts were, in fact, hardened against him.

Dealing with rejection is difficult to do. However, Jesus knew all this would occur as written prophetically, and accepted it as God’s will to which he vowed full obedience. Recalling the words: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3), gave him encouragement, knowing he would soon be reunited with his Father, whom he loved so much and with whom he desired to be again.—John 17:1,4,5

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