The Rejected Son (John 1:10-11

Scripture reading:
(10) He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (11) He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.


Observations:
Earlier in John, we saw some pretty amazing things about Jesus.

Amongst other things, we have seen that Jesus:

• existed at the beginning of time;
• is inseparable from god the father;
• was the creator of everything that existed; and
• is the source of all life, having life within himself.

Does that sound exciting?

If a man put that on his resume, wouldn’t he be sought after?

He would - if you believed him. And many did. The gospels do say that Jesus had many followers.

But even though many people believed him, the great majority did not. Many people despised Jesus, believing he was a fake or a religious nutcase. Some even saw him as a blasphemer against god.

So Jesus, after having made the whole world, and all of the people in it, himself came into the world, his own creation. The world’s response to our maker – “Reject him. Mock him. Laugh at him. He’s just a raving lunatic – or worse, a blasphemer. Kill him. Crucify him!

Nothing had changed. In Old Testament times, before Jesus, god had been rejected over and over again by the people he made. Some people made a decent attempt to follow god (although all sinned against him at some point), but the great majority rejected him and his ways. They set up idols to worship instead of god.

Now, when we see god come enter the world in human form, we see the same pattern arising.

Many did believe and follow him. But the great majority rejected and despised him, not recognizing that he was indeed their maker. Over and over again, we see man rejecting god.

I wonder how god feels about all this. I wonder how you would feel if you made an entire world and all the people in it, and then the people who you owned and who you made, rejected you.

You make them, you own them, they are yours, and yet they reject you. Could you let that go unpunished?

Personally, I would be extremely and uncontrollably angry. I would unleash complete destruction.

I have heard people say that “a truly loving god would never send people to hell.” This, from a human perspective, is an understandable way of thinking.

However, this viewpoint ignores the fact that we have rejected god. We have turned our back on god. God cannot let this go unpunished.

Fortunately, we will see from the next passage, god is merciful and has a solution toward dealing with our rejection.


Prayer:
Dear heavenly father.

Lord, you created the whole earth and all of life, yet we rejected you. You are the source of all life – you gave us everything that we have and everything that we are – yet we hid from you, spat on your face and turned away.

Lord, we can only look on our rebellion with shame. Who do we think we are to have a right to turn our back on you? You are our maker, who are we to reject you?

Lord, for our shameful rebellion, we can only beg for your mercy. We see in the next passage that despite our rebellion, you, in your mercy still provide a way for us to be in relationship with you.

Lord, all we can ask for is your mercy.

In the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord

Amen