LEARNING FROM JESUS'S REJECTION - SermonCast

LEARNING FROM JESUS'S REJECTION - SermonCast

Why do people reject what might help them the most? In Luke 4, Jesus reads Isaiah about Himself and is then dismissed as “Joseph’s son.” Familiarity often leads to disbelief quickly. Mark 6 shows how a wrong view of someone can block what you could receive from them.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Why Luke Adds Crucial Details
• 1:10 Jesus Attends The Synagogue
• 3:31 Isaiah Points Directly To Jesus
• 7:30 Familiarity Turns Into Disrespect
• 12:44 Perception Drives Rejection And Limits Faith
• 18:36 Mark 6 And Being Rejected At Home
• 23:26 Questioning Identity And Mocking Big Dreams
• 30:30 Honor, Offence, And Blocked Blessings
• 36:49 Go Where You Are Received

Transcript

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Why Luke Adds Crucial Details

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Luke chapter 4 verse 16. So he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. So this account that we are reading, we can see this same account in the Gospel of Matthew in the Gospel of Mark. However, the Gospel of Luke explained to us exactly what Jesus Christ did before he was rejected. And that is what we are reading. And then we're going to get to the Gospel of Mark. Because Mark didn't really give us enough information or details about how Jesus got rejected in his own country. Something happened. And Luke gave us details of what happened before Jesus Christ got rejected. That is why, whenever you're looking at the Bible, if you're not able to find sufficient information in that gospel, you can always cross-reference in other gospels. The Bible states in Luke chapter

Jesus Attends The Synagogue

SPEAKER_00 1:10

4, verse 16. So he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. And as custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. Okay. This is very interesting. Just like you and I, we attend church, Jesus Christ attended a church. They didn't call it a church, they called it a synagogue. Okay. It was on a Sabbath. And Jesus Christ had an opportunity to read. To read from what? From the scripture. Just as we have church and we have the Bible, in the time of Jesus, mama, they had church and they had the Bible. So Jesus that we are serving went to church and he had access to the Bible. And now he's reading from the Bible. And we're going to see exactly what Jesus is reading from the Bible. And he was under the book of the prophet Isaiah. Do we still have the book of the prophet Isaiah in your Bible? Yes. So we still have the same book that Jesus read. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written. Now, if you look at the entire Bible from Genesis all the way down to Revelation, the entire Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament is all about Jesus. You might think that Jesus is not mentioned in the book of Esther. But if you dig in and you look closely, Jesus is in that book. You might think the book of Proverbs, you can't really find his specific name, Jesus. But who Jesus is, it's in that book. So the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation is all about Jesus. And now Jesus himself opened the book of Isaiah and found a place where it was written about himself.

Isaiah Points Directly To Jesus

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Verse 18. To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty those who were oppressed to proclaim the acceptable hear of the Lord. Now, this is very interesting. Jesus is reading a book about himself. And if the people were wise enough, if the people were wise enough, Jesus is actually reading a prophecy about himself, and the fulfillment of that prophecy is right there in their time. So before we get to his rejection, why would you reject something that would change your life? Why would you reject someone that has the capacity to change your life? Why would they reject Jesus when Jesus has revealed himself to the people? That guys, this scripture that we have, the book of Isaiah spoke about me. He personalized it that the spirit of the Lord is upon me. These verses that you're reading, you are seeing it in flesh. You are seeing it right in front of you in church. 20. Then he closed the book and gave it back to the attendants and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him. Can you imagine? Now, just like I am here, I opened the Bible and I'm reading. Jesus closed the book, and all you guys are looking at me. Imagine Jesus read about himself. He was done. Closed the book, and everyone in the church in their synagogue looked at Jesus. They fixed their eyes on him. Okay? Focusing on Jesus. And he began to say to them, Today, today, this scripture is fulfilled in your urine. Can you imagine? How can you take a word or verses in the scripture and you're telling people that this scripture that I just read is fulfilled in your urine. Now the choice is do you believe or not? The reason why they rejected Jesus because they didn't believe in Jesus. John chapter 1, verse 11. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name. So the reason why they rejected Jesus is because they didn't believe in Jesus. And we just read in Luke that Jesus said today this scripture is fulfilled in your

Familiarity Turns Into Disrespect

SPEAKER_00 7:30

hearing. And the Bible states that faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. Verse 22. So all bore witness to him and marvel at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, Now look at the disrespect. Okay. Is this not Joseph's son? Can you imagine? Jesus made a bold statement that guys, this scripture that I'm reading has been fulfilled in your hearing. When you see me, I am the fulfillment of this prophecy. And the people were focused. It's like you, Madam Lydia. Come in here saying that guys, I'm gonna be the first lady of Canada. And we are all looking at you, mama, mama. Are you serious? You just came. Yeah, guys. I'm gonna be the first lady of Canada. Just an example. Oh, Minister Winnie is saying, guys, I'm gonna be a millionaire. Now now you will doubt. Do you know why you would doubt? Yes, you you will doubt. Some of us will doubt because we're too familiar with each other. Remember, they ask, can anything good come out of Nazareth? You see, God specializes when people reject you, when people say that there's nothing you can do in your life. You came from a poor family, you came from a bad family, from a bad home. But God knows how to humble people, to take the weak, to take the poor, and exalt them. Jesus came from Nazareth, and that is the good thing that ever happened, not just to Nazareth, but to the entire universe. They're asking, is this not Joseph's son? First of all, Joseph did not conceive Jesus. That's a lie. Oh, you see their perception about ah, you see their view of Jesus. That's how they started disrespecting him. They didn't know his father. They thought that his father is who? Joseph. What kind of question is this? Is this not Joseph's son? Wow. That shows that you don't know who Jesus is. Is this not Joseph's son? That's like they are they are they are placed in Jesus in a human sense. You're just a normal human being. We know your father. The idea of Jesus was wrong. And as a result of having wrong ideas about Jesus, they couldn't believe some of the statement that Jesus is saying that the scripture in Isaiah spoke about me, and I am the fulfillment. There's no way they can believe in the divinity of Jesus when they are referring to Jesus that is this not the son of Joseph. You see, what I've learned, Jesus Sheba, is 100% God. Jesus is 100% human being. Okay? If you only view Jesus, Israel, or you only relate with Jesus on a human basis, you will limit yourself how far you can go with Jesus. You will limit how much Jesus could do for you because you only view and relate with Jesus on a human level. You only see his humanity, you don't see his divinity. So our perception of people is determined if we're gonna receive them or if we're gonna reject them. So rejection, child of God, comes from perception. How people perceive you will determine if they're gonna receive you or if they're gonna reject you. Their perception of Jesus made them to reject Jesus. And when people reject you, what they will do next? They will disrespect you. That's what happened to Jesus. When people reject you, the next thing for them to do is disrespect you. And rejection comes from our perception, how we view people. How

Perception Drives Rejection And Limits Faith

SPEAKER_00 12:44

do you view people? Do you view people based on your current situation or do we view upper room ministry based on where we are right now? If we're not careful, we can develop a perception about this church based on what we are seeing. But if we can see beyond the physical and we can see the future, then we can have hope. You can reject somebody because you have already concluded on them because of what you see temporarily. That is why people say no condition is what? Permanent, but we can make conditions permanent. We as human beings, we can make people's lives permanent. We can conclude that you're always gonna be in the same place in life. This is deep. That is a big fat lie. Joseph didn't conceive Jesus, it was the Holy Spirit. Their perception of Jesus was wrong. Let's continue. Mark chapter six, okay? So the context in which we are we're gonna look at Mark chapter six, that's gonna be our focus, and then we're gonna pray. Because when we read the rejection of Jesus, it came out of a place where Jesus went to the synagogue, read about himself in the book of Isaiah, presented himself that the scripture in the book of Isaiah has been fulfilled in the hearing of the people. Okay, he presented himself. Sometimes in life, oh God, people have a reason to reject you. Nobody can reject you for no reason. There's always a reason why people will reject you, and then people tend to reject you based on something they themselves cannot perceive. Okay, let me say that again. People tend to reject you based on what they cannot understand, or they cannot perceive, or they think it is impossible for you to be such, or for you to do such. Are you a prophet? Are you God? Because only the again, the Messiah, they were waiting for the Messiah. So the lesson here is that we tend to reject people because of the way we present ourselves, tend to be too true for people to believe. It's like you saying, Anna, God has called you to become a powerful worshiper, a global worshiper. But currently, you're worshiping here in Upper Rome Ministry with few members. Anna will believe the picture of her future. She will believe that picture that God said, This is your future. She believes that. We can choose to reject or believe that picture. That is why when people reject you, don't let it get into you. When people reject you, yes, they have the right because you can't really control what people think about you, you can't really control what people say about you. But what you can control is do not internalize it. Okay, God didn't give you the vision, you didn't see the vision for my future. So you can choose to believe or not, that's your business. I saw my future and I'm gonna believe it because God said so be it. So they cannot convince Jesus that Jesus no way. This scripture is fulfilled because Jesus believes it. He is convinced that he is the Son of God. We're breaking the mindset of rejection, that spirit that tends to make you feel like you know what? I am not worthy because of what people have said, and if you're not careful, you can hide to what people have said about you. That's what the Bible says, Satan is the is what the father of lies, he is a liar. God says something about you. Believe it. If people don't believe it, it's okay, mama. That's their problem. Don't kill yourself, don't bother yourself, but you believe what God said about you, you hold on to what God said about you. Amen.

Mark 6 And Being Rejected At Home

SPEAKER_00 18:36

I'll start from verse 1, Mark chapter 6. Then he went out from there and came to his own country. Okay, this is his own country. Oh God, you see, and another thing I've learned about rejection tend to be people who know us. People, our friends, even our church members, ministers, your own children, because they know you. But you know what? Nobody knows you as much as God and you and God. Even though you guys are here, I see you guys here on Sundays, you guys see me on Sundays. I don't know everything about your life. You don't know anything about my life. See, but because I see you on a regular Sundays, I'm concluded that I know everything about Sheba, I know everything about Anna. It's a lie. I don't know the future of Anna. I don't know her tomorrow. So Jesus came to his own country, and his disciples followed him. And when and when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue. That's exactly what he did. Okay, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, So the lesson that he taught was the book of Isaiah that he opened. But look, but but Mark and Matthew didn't mention that. Okay, so that's why he started off by going back to look to see what was Jesus teaching. Jesus was teaching about himself, he was teaching his people about his purpose. People tend to reject our purpose in life. People tend to reject our destiny because it's bigger than our head. No, you cannot, you cannot, you cannot be the next prime minister, you cannot be the next doctor. No, I know you, man. I know you, girl, I know, I know your mom, I know your village, I know your country. You're from Uganda, ah, Africa, it's Africa, that's where you're from. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Can you imagine? That was one of the disciples who was saying that to Jesus. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Wow, but what came out of Nazareth? The savior of the entire world. The same question: can anything good come out of Nazareth? But what came out of Nazareth is what? The savior of the world. If they can say that to Jesus, and they have said that to you, I'm here to tell you that it's a lie. Because God has a plan and a future for you. Now, where they ask, where did this man get these things? It was strange. Why would you speak like this? Where are you getting this revelation? Oh my god, you see, sometimes when people start to reject you, they will start questioning you. Hey God, when people start to reject you, they will question who you are. Ah Bambi, where did you get this? Where did you go to school? You said you're a doctor? Which school did you go to? Banana? Banana Island? No, no, no, no, no. You have a dream? What kind of dream do you have? They will question your dreams. They will question your identity. Oh, I'm an overcomer. I'm righteous. I am a winner.

unknown 22:26

Ah!

SPEAKER_00 22:26

You're a winner. What did you win?

unknown 22:32

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

When people will start rejecting you, they will start questioning you. Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are? They said, where did this man get these things? Jesus, where did you get this revelation from? Are you saying that this scripture that you just read in Isaiah? The fulfillment is who you no no no no no no. Jesus, I know your I know your father Joseph. I used the scripture you just read in the book of Isaiah. You are the scripture. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. They cannot believe this, okay? They cannot believe the destiny of Jesus. They cannot believe the purpose

Questioning Identity And Mocking Big Dreams

SPEAKER_00 23:26

of Jesus. Are you saying that Jesus the Spirit of God is upon you to do what? To preach the gospel to the poor. Are you saying that Jesus you have been sent to proclaim liberty? Are you saying that Jesus you have been sent to recover to the blind? Are you saying that Jesus you have been sent to set the captives free? All these wonderful things in the book of Isaiah being fulfilled in Jesus for their own good. But the question is that's how stupid we are at times. Someone among us might have a big idea. Because, no, no, no, it can't, no, it can't be. But what they're trying to do is for the good of us all. Why do you want to be a stumbling block? What Jesus is saying that, oh, I should be happy. Are you saying that you're the one who's gonna come to do what? To heal the brokenhearted? Hmm. Okay. That's the attitude of somebody who believes. They don't have to see, but they believe. And that's why Jesus said, Blessed is he who believes who have not sinned. They asked Jesus, Where did you where did this man okay? First of all, look at the insult. They call him a man. They brought him down. Where did this man? This man. You are the son of Joseph. You see, when people start rejecting you, they will insult you. They will insult you. They will call you names that you didn't call yourself. Oh God, oh God, this is real. And and what wisdom is this which is given to him? Such mighty works are performed by his hands. You see, Jesus wasn't what is just Jesus was not just talking, he was doing, and they testify, but they still don't want to believe. Sometimes people that reject you, they are just stubborn. They are just what? Stubborn. Jesus performed. They said, look, what kind of wisdom is this? Look at all the signs and wonders this man is doing. Look all the mighty works he's doing. Look all the great things he's doing. You see, in this life, life is funny. You can do good, you can do many things for people. People will still reject you. They are just stubborn. They just don't. It's not like they don't know your worth, they just don't want to believe it. That's all. People that reject you, they actually, some of them actually know your worth. But you're just doing it because of selfish reasons or they hate you. It's like Satan saying that. Are you the son of God? When his demons actually said you're the son of God, the son of the most high. The demons know. The demons do not question the identity of Jesus. You know why Satan questioned the identity of Jesus? Because he's trying to make Jesus to worship him. Are you the son of God? Just like he was saying to Adam and Eve, Oh, I don't think God doesn't want you to eat because God, that's what he does. That's his spirit rejection. And he started off from the Garden of Eden. And he tried that with Jesus, trying to make Jesus feel like, oh, question himself. You see, when that spirit comes, if you're not careful, you will question yourself. You will question yourself. If you don't believe in the word of God, you start questioning God. Did you really call me? Recently I was asking myself, God, did you really call me? When rejection, when God, when that spirit takes over, sometimes to that to that extreme, you reject everything about yourself. And people who are suicidal are people who feel like everyone has rejected them, life has rejected them, their parents has rejected them, God has rejected them. What is there for me to live for? Is this not a carpenter? First of all, they address him as a man, they address him as the son of Joseph. They address him as a carpenter. Okay. Wow. Wow. They just don't want to identify. Oh God, they just don't want to address Jesus as God, as their savior, as the Messiah. Sometimes you can be around your friends. They know your worth, your people. That, oh, you are a child of God. But they don't want to call you. Oh my God. Oh my God. Instead, they will call you, my friend. Let's say you work in the office as a doctor. Your friend came over to see you, to say hi to you. And they realize that everybody refers to you as Dr. Anna, Dr. Shiba. But because you know this doctor and you heard that everybody refers to this doctor as doctor. But for you now, because you're familiar with this doctor, you refer to this doctor by your name. Even though everyone around you address your friend as doctor, but you, you just you're just casual. Oh my friend. That's how we tend to belittle and disrespect one another, even amongst ourselves as friends. And if you're not careful, you see, oh God, this is a dangerous spirit. Because if I start to disrespect or downgrade the ministry of Madame Lydia, the ministry of Anna, the ministry of Winnie, the ministry of our elders, the grace that God has put in them to serve the church, to impact our lives. But because I have discredited that ministry, it's not going to work for me. So what you despise will not work for you. Ah. Rejection. When you reject people, especially people that God has put in your life to be a blessing to you, you will forfeit that blessing.

Honor, Offence, And Blocked Blessings

SPEAKER_00 30:30

Ah, this thing is dangerous. That's what happened with Jesus. He has done signs, he has performed miracles. But look at the process they believe to this man. They know his family, they know his occupation. He's a carpenter. They lied about him, that he's a son of Joseph. He is a son of Mary. Now, okay, the son of Mary, that makes sense. We know his brothers. James, Simon, Judas. We also know his sisters. Oh my God. Hey. Sometimes when people reject you, my man, they don't want to say out loud who you truly are that God has said. Instead, they will just address you in a way that is normal. To the point of saying that, oh, I know your village. I know your parents. I know your friends. Okay, you know all, you know, you know everything about me, but do you know my calling? Do you know my purpose? Do you know my assignment? Do you know what I'm gonna be? They don't want to know. They don't want to know who Jesus is. The Messiah, the Savior. That is why they're saying that Jesus, no, you can't be the Messiah. Ah, you can't be the Messiah. You can't be the Savior. Because we know. No, it's a lie. They don't know. They only know the physical background of Jesus, but they don't know the divinity of Jesus. You see, our perception, we should not limit each other by what I see today, Sheba. Because I don't know where you're going from here. I don't know where God is taking you. I don't know where your future is. Don't conclude. Because you don't see this young man, this young woman, our elders. You don't see them as wonderful, great people in the future. God can change somebody's life in an instant. The reason why people reject you is because they are offended by you. Look what it said. So they were offended at him. That's pretty. Sometimes you'll think that, oh, what do you think? Who do you think you are? I'm a child of God. I'm not gonna apologize, Sheba. And I don't apologize when people ask you who you are. I am a son of God. I am a daughter of God. And I'm not gonna apologize. You can't make such a claim. You cannot be a son of God. You can't be a daughter of God. No, God is too big, you're too small. No, no, no, no. Okay, that's that's your perception. But I know who I am. Perception is very key. They were offended, but now look at the response of Jesus, okay? He himself is dealing with rejection. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country. Like I was saying, Jesus is the prophet that Moses was talking about. But they don't want to see him as a prophet who has come to declare the word of God to them, as he read from the book of Isaiah. They don't want to see him as a prophet, they want to see him as the son of Mary. They want to see him as the son of Joseph. They want to see him as a carpenter, they want to see him based on his siblings. But Jesus is saying that no, don't just see me based on my siblings, don't just see me based on my earthly parents, don't just see me based on my career. I'm just a PSWP worker. That's how you identify yourself. No, no, you're you're more than that, you are bigger than that. Your job title is not your identity. We need to learn this principle in life. As much as we are close to each other, we should learn to honor one another. It says, in his own country, among his own relatives and his own house. Wow. From country to relatives and your own house. Even oh God, if you're married, even your spouse, Winnie, even your husband, if your husband does not know your potential, if your husband does not know what God has put in you, he will disrespect you or your wife. So that spirit is not just in the country, you can sit in the neighborhood, and you can also sit in your own house. Children undermine their parents, parents undermine their children, and finally we're gonna pray. Now, this is sad. This is very, very sad. This is why this is why we're gonna pray because our God. Verse 5, it says, Now he could do no mighty work there, except that he lay his hands on a few sick people and healed them and a marvel because of their unbelief, then he went about the villages in a circuit teaching.

Go Where You Are Received

SPEAKER_00 36:49

So, like I said before, that when people reject you, mama, it's because they don't believe you, they don't believe you. And you cannot really function or you cannot really do more in a place where you're not appreciated. So Jesus said, I'm not gonna do no mighty works anymore. I'm not gonna do any mighty works anymore. Because you guys rejected me and I'm gonna find people who receive me. So if I'm not welcome here, I'll go to other places. Don't force yourself to be around people who reject you. Okay, don't force yourself to make people to like you. Don't force yourself to make people to appreciate you. Don't ever force yourself. Don't make yourself look bad. Is something wrong with me? No, nothing is wrong with you. Something is wrong with them because they don't believe in who you are. That's what Jesus said. They rejected Jesus because they didn't believe in him as a prophet. They choose to believe in him based on what they're familiar with. Yes, let's leave them alone. People in our lives who only choose to believe what they see us from the past, but they don't want to believe where we are going, they don't want to believe our future.