The Rejection of the Son of Man and His Message

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An examination of The Commands of the Master

Repent your lives for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

Preface

At the Master’s inauguration of His public ministry, the Son of Man and His message of the Kingdom of Heaven would have Jesus walking the paradoxical line between offerings a genuine call of repentance, while at the same time, preparing for the possibility of becoming rejected and misunderstood throughout His ministry.

For what He offered, according to the prophecies concerning Him, was common knowledge yet futuristic among those to who He would minister. At His earthly advent of proclaiming the percepts of the Kingdom of Heaven, until His very last breath on earth, what He offered was not of this world system. Jesus, the faithful witness from above represented a revolutionary divine design, offering a new future of new wine and new wineskins. [Luke 5:36-39]

In this blog post today, using the passage selection Matthew4:17, we will examine briefly aspects of the basic requirements of entry into the Kingdom while the larger section of this teaching communicates about Jesus’ title as the Lamb of God and its present and eternal benefits.

Rejection of the King

While attending the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus would later be rejected by His town after His exposition of Isaiah 61:1-2. To all those present, Jesus publicly introduced Himself as the One who fulfilled the great Messianic portrait presented by the prophet Isaiah.

Due to this rejection, Jesus left that town and settled in Capernaum. Matthew would later write that this act of Jesus was also a prophetic fulfillment as recorded in Isaiah 9:1-2. Isaiah had indicated that in that remote place, the light would shine to those in darkness. Those living under the threat of death would find a “Deliverer!”

The Master settled there and from Capernaum, He carried on His extensive ministry through Galilee. The “Word” lived, to take up residence during this period of His ministry. Matthew 4:13

Very interestingly, Capernaum was more Gentile than Jewish thus the rejection in Nazareth was a foreshadowing that He would extend a gracious ministry to the Gentiles as a result of being rejected as Messiah by Israel.

Introduction To Those Who Would Enter The Kingdom

Some at the introduction of Jesus’ public ministry were uncertain if Jesus’ message of repentance was any different than now-imprisoned John the Baptist. The act of repentance is a spiritual discipline that will be required as a life-long practice by any disciple, yet the message in which Jesus is proclaiming would become radically different. This difference would be in due season, the manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven would give the faithful follower, an inward gift of righteousness, peace, joy, by God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.

Such a promise of inner spirituality by God on behalf of His children adds potency to John the Baptist’s groundwork for the Messiah. His plea to all non-committed hearts around the Jordan river, “Bring forth fruits worthy of Repentance!” Luke 3:8, thus carries paramount significance.

What exactly were these fruits? The text stated that the required fruits of repentance were not external, religious in nature, they, in essence, were a radical change of will and character to do good, be honest, and honor God, while loving one’s neighbor as oneself.

John the Baptist understood that his message plus the ritual of baptism was a preparation for the actual Messianic baptism anticipated by the prophets of old. They knew that for a true cleaning, the Nation would have to wait until God would open in Israel a fountain for cleansing.

“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. Zachariah 13:1

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Other prophets state:

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone…, giving you a heart of flesh!” Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 33:8

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but He that cometh after me…, shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11

The Works and the Instructions of Jesus’ Message of the Kingdom of Heaven

A brief overview of the uniqueness of Messiah

• He fulfilled the teaching of the Old Covenant Scriptures.
• He lived and taught the Holy Scriptures
• He explained and exposed that all transgression of God’s moral laws is manifested inwardly-within an evil heart.
• His entire life parallels the life of the Hebrew/Jewish nation, in that where Israel failed, the Messiah was successful.
• He is the embodiment of each of the High Holy Days of Israel, thus He replaced the temple system by creating an entirely new priesthood.

Instruction to those who would enter into the Kingdom of Heaven

• Prayer- Matthew 7:7-11
• True righteousness- Luke 6:31, 43-45
• Entry into the Narrow Gate- Hearing His Word and accepting His Person: Matthew 7:13-14
• Beware of false teachers and false religious systems. John 6:29
• Choosing the correct foundation- Christ offered Himself as Savior-Sovereign thus invited souls to put faith in Him and His Word as the most trusted spiritual/moral foundation. Luke 6:46-49

[This section of the works, instructions of Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of Heaven was glean from The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, by J. Dwight Pentecost]

The Son of Man as the Passover Lamb of God

“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1

Without any great debate, the very justice that Messiah would bring to all humanity is made an eternal reality through His works as the Passover Lamb of God. One writer penned this truth in these words, as he communicates about the attitude of Jesus throughout His earthly ministry:

Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself taking the form of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross…, Philippians 2:7

The Messiah is the complete embodiment of the Passover great feast which God implemented celebrating the birth of Israel as a Nation in freedom from bondage. This Holy Day is without equal, in that it is full of meanings that relate to all followers in Messiah.

This very manner of divine-guided exodus is the Godly directed pattern of all of His plans of redemptive acts. This is true of the final redemption and the reestablishment of God’s Kingdom as recorded by the apostle John in the Revelation of Jesus.

The festival of Passover is a special celebration of God’s applied grace in both the Old and New Covenant times. It celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to make him a great nation and to bring the Messiah from his seed. Jesus, the rejected One, is that Seed! [Comments, observations about Passover was gleaned from Growing To Maturity: A Messianic Jewish Guide, by Daniel C. Juster]

The Son of Man is Betrayed

The authors of the Gospel writings communicate from their perspectives, how Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate the seven-day Festival of Unleavened Bread and to eat this last Passover with them before He suffered. Below is an order of the events of this evening:

He was reclining at the table,

• Eating the Passover meal
• Washing the disciples’ feet
• Identifing Judas as the betrayer
• Implimentation of the Lord’s Supper
• Teaches messages about heaven, the Holy Spirit and peace. John 14
• Prophesy about the future millennial kingdom
• Singing a hymn
• Travel to Gethsemane
• Great Prayer
• His great anguish, betrayal and arrest
• His hearings
• The Cricifixion
• Death
• Burial
• Resurrection
• The Commission

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worship Him, but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:16-20

The Consequences of Unbelief and Rejecting Christ Jesus

John 3:16-21

Many people think that rejecting Jesus is a choice without consequences. Although they don’t mind others following the Lord, they seem to be doing just fine without Him. However, they fail to consider both the present and eternal consequences of their unbelief.

Since God’s judgment is often seen as a future event, the urgency of salvation may be lost on people who want to enjoy the pleasures of earthly life and feel no need for a Savior. But Jesus said those who do not believe in Him have been judged already because they love darkness and don’t want their sins exposed by His light. In other words, they love their sin and are unwilling to turn from it. Living this way seems comfortable and allows them to rule their own life according to their desires.

Some claim to believe in Jesus while still loving their sins and trying to hide them from His light. But attempts to have it both ways won’t work, and such people remain in darkness.

The pleasures of sin, however, are temporary (Heb. 11:25). The wise are those who truly believe and are eager to come to the light; they want nothing more to do with a godless lifestyle. Remember, it’s never too late to come to the Lord. [Daily Devotions: September 25, 2021- In Touch Ministries-“The Consequences of Unbelief”]

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