Jesus: The Rejected Saviour! John 10:39-42

Text:  “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own (the Jewish Nation), and His own received Him not.  But to as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”

John 1:10-12.

Good morning, receptive Christian!  You and I are ‘receptive Christians’ due to the fact that the Lord God Almighty has granted us FAITH to both believe and receive His Son, Christ Jesus. 

We have been Spiritually regenerated from a 'dead spirit', and made alive to the things of God.  We have been ‘…quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…’. Therefore we are made Spiritually receptive to God’s will, as revealed in God’s written Word.  Hallelujah!  Praise God for granting us full reception power!

“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;).   (Ephesians 2:1; 5)

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)

So, let us ask ourselves some most pertinent questions today, receptive Christian:  Are we receiving Christ’s instruction power?  If so, are we acting on that power?  Are we actually transmitting God’s will to others?

If we are being faithful to the Lord God in both receiving and transmitting His will to others - by proclaiming the Gospel message; by witnessing to others concerning our Christian faith; by seeking unsaved souls for Jesus - then we shall have the ever attendant ‘persecutions…’.  The world, the flesh, and the devil should all be earnestly engaged against us.  Is this YOUR daily experience in life, my professing Christian friend?

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  But evil men (and women) and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”                             (2 Timothy 3:12-13)

With this Biblical concept in mind therefore, let us ask ourselves whether or not we are receiving such promised ’…persecutions…’, and if not, why not?  Is it because we have ceased transmitting Christ’s Gospel message?

In today’s selected Bible passage we find the Lord Jesus coming under immediate danger and persecution for His forthright witness to the people - having just publicly confronted the Jewish crowds concerning His Divine works.

“Therefore they sought again to take Him; but He escaped out of their hand.”  (V.39)

The Lord Jesus found it necessary to evade His persecutors, moving away ‘…AGAIN beyond Jordan into the place where John (the Baptist) first baptized; and there He abode.’ (V.40)

Christ’s open and forthright transmission of the Gospel - revealing Himself to be the long awaited Messiah - caused the world all around Him, and especially the outwardly religious rulers, to persecute Him and seek to kill Him.  The Lord Jesus was faithfully receiving direction from His Heavenly Father, faithfully transmitting the will of God as He had received it; and suffering open persecution as a direct consequences of His faithfulness.

Are YOU and I being likewise faithful to our calling as Christians in this increasingly apostate  21^st Century?

If so, then find encouragement in what followed Christ’s persecution; be encouraged by what happens every time a faithful Christian is persecuted:

“And many resorted unto Him, and said, John did no miracle; but all things that John spake of this Man (Jesus) were true.  And many believed on Him there.”  (Vs. 41-42)

Wow!  Now that is what I call a good result!  It makes all the detractions; all the persecutions; all the defamations; all the dangers and threats of danger well worth enduring.  Precious souls being saved are well worth the suffering!

With these Scriptural facts in mind, beloved Christian, let us go forth once more proclaiming the truth of God’s Word and transmitting Christ, and Him Crucified as the only means of Eternal Salvation.  Glory to the Lamb!

Thought:  Good receivers are well equipped to be good transmitters.