At every turn, Jesus was misunderstood and rejected. As John 1:11says, He “came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” So how did Jesus endure this unfair treatment, and how can you and I resist the urge to fight back when we are rejected too?
When Jesus started His ministry, everyone seemed to love having Him around – as long as He continued to heal the sick and feed the masses. But the moment He challenged them with the principles of God’s Kingdom, they forsook Him: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66).
And even those disciples who continued with Jesus didn’t really understand His true mission. At least seven times Jesus told them about His death on the cross and the resurrection. Yet, they still didn’t get it. Peter even tried to rebuke Jesus for talking so much about His death!
While He was on the cross, Jesus still had patience and a love for those who didn’t understand Him. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Do you sometimes feel misunderstood and maligned by those around you? Do they look down on you for your faith in Christ and your commitment to your Christian walk? Let Jesus be your example and ask Him to help you to always have patience and a forgiving heart toward others.
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