As men we have no ability to perfectly know the future. No matter how we project and prudently plan for the future we still can not entirely know what tomorrow will bring. Christ is entirely different. As an omniscient person He knows what tomorrow will bring. This has an advantage and disadvantage. As sinful people once we determine with certainty how people will treat you then we would avoid engagement with such people group. But not with the Messiah—He knew beforehand that the people would reject and undermine Him, yet He still proceeded to minister to them!
Our text is a part of the prophecy of Isaiah on the sufferings of the coming Messiah. The entire prophecy was fulfilled in the New Testament. But I want to focus only on the first three verses. They are about people’s maltreatment of the Messiah. Considering the entire context already mentioned, these first three verses also found fulfillment in the New Testament. But I want still to show you from the Bible how these first three verses were indeed fulfilled. Then, we shall consider its implications upon our lives and ministry.
Signs of Rejection and Fulfillment
The text lists down eight (8) specific acts of rejection of the Messiah. Primarily, the people of Israel will reject Him. Later, as we see in the Gospels account in the New Testament, others will also reject Him. First, they rejected His message (v.1). Thousands of people heard Him preach and saw Him heal the sick yet they rejected His kingdom message. Very few submitted to embrace His message. The very source of God’s word was the one who spoke, still they refused His sermons. The Pharisees rejected His sermons and answers. The rich young ruler found His requirements of salvation very heavy, so he left without salvation. Second, they saw no attraction in the Messiah that would drive people to Him (v.2). As the prophet said, there is no beauty in Him. He must have been engrossed on physical trade works. Such will affect Him physically. The nationalists have insinuated to lead them into national liberation from the Roman oppression yet when He refused they left Him. They rejected His message. They only wanted to use Him for their own agenda. They saw no appeal in His sermons.
Third, the Messiah was despised by the people (v.3). What a great blasphemy that He was charged with being of Beelzebub. They were full of ignorance in declaring this error. People belittled Him as an illegitimate son of Mary. He was rumored to be an outcast due to this false impression. Fourth, the Messiah was rejected by the people (v.3). Once, the people asked Him to leave their place as His messages brought them economic hardship. They were seriously concerned with their business or livelihood rather than their soul destiny and earthly life quality. Here is a classic example of a village of Gadarene treating Him as persona non grata. It is like church members rejecting the instruction of God’s words because they will lose loved ones. Fifth, the Messiah endured sorrows (v.3). As a person from an economically poor family and village of Nazareth, what can you expect from Him in terms of property? Thus, He grew up working to feed Himself and His siblings. He was unlike the corrupt and greedy Romanists and cultists who preyed upon their victims to expand their wealth holdings. He was unlike the pastors who unceasingly exact funds from the people and elsewhere to bloat their pockets and to address their whims in stead of advancing the local church into distant territories.
Sixth, He was acquainted with grief (v.3). He struggled with God the Father at the garden of Gethsemane to obey the latter’s will. Many times He faced the grief brought by the desertion of His disciples. He even felt the weight of the world’s sin as he was hanging there at the cross. What a mixture of physical, emotional, and spiritual grief! So as His servants and His children we ought not to complain at the slightest grief we face in the ministry. Remember Him who was grieved by His own disciples and relatives as well as by the very people of Israel for whom He came. Seventh, people hid from Him as if they did not want to be with Him (v.3). He was regarded as a leper by some people. So He was brought outside the city as a sign of being a castaway. What an embarrassing moment when people hide from our home calls and saints’ visitation for revival! If you felt such neglect and show of insignificance then we know the heart of our Messiah when He was here.
And finally, people did not show Him respect (v.3). As a person of highest authority and power in the entire universe, He deserves the highest honor which He did not get here. Paul understood the contrasting truth in Philippians 2:9-11 where everyone must give the highest respect and submission to Christ. So every time a person refuses to do this truth he has no right to remain in this universe. For such disrespect is a blatant and horrible attack upon the Lordship and dominion of Christ over the entire universe.
As saved people we must tremble to obey Him and His words rather than get terrified over our secular superiors. The sinning and corrupt national leaders and their equally dishonest critics are given more importance as they pass by our places while the servants and workers of the Lord are insignificantly overlooked. What a terrible wickedness! When church members and leaders disregard the godly biblical counsel of God’s man it is also a sign of disrespect! There is sorrow in my heart to hear and to see people disrespect Christ and His biblical demands. Surely, when He comes he will judge them with the most just punishment. See Jn. 12:48 and 2 Thess. 1:3-10 for basis of these divine forthcoming acts.
Implications of Prophecy
Having seen that Gods’ prophecy through prophet Isaiah was fulfilled in the New Testament let us then contemplate upon its impact on our thoughts and acts. First, it shows God’s words are reliable and certain. What God has said came to pass. So what God has said in the New Testament will also come to pass. None of it could ever fail. It shows the need to deepen our resolve and usage of God’s word in all life areas. Second, we are forewarned that belittling God’s counsel as given by His servants is a form of rejection. Thus, we must seriously obey to pastoral guidance and counsel as this is designed for our safety and success in the way of the Lord. Rejection and neglect of such biblical pastoral direction is contrary to Hebrews 13:17 and leads to ruin and grief.
Third, ministers and missionaries ought to bear the sufferings of their members’ backsliding, rebellion to authority, and rejection of godly counsel. Such patient and enduring attitude signifies Christ’s influence upon their lives. Since He has called us to serve Him at the local church then we must patiently bear the burdens of the ministry in which He has placed us. Fourth, earthly life and work is not always blissful until we reach the abode of God. Why is this? The world is not ours. We are strangers in it as Peter declared it in 1 Peter 2:11. The world is also raging against God. It is zealously in pursuit of betterment apart from God’s program and principles.
Fifth, as Christ’s servants, we must endure maltreatment from people around us. Jesus was not accepted by His own siblings until His resurrection. He was deserted by His own disciples at the crucial hour. He was spitted upon by soldiers. They even desecrated His holiness by gambling at the foot of His cross. They also grumbled over before Him. None would like to be with Him. If this is how He was treated as Lord and Savior then it is presumptuous to expect applause and high respect from this world. As His followers and servants we must expect, without desiring it, the rejection of our worldly counterparts who reject Him and His words. Amen!
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