Jesus is rejected in the world today – but that is nothing new. Scripture tells us that Jesus faced rejection while he was in this world.
THE GADARENES REJECTED JESUS. Who were they? “The Gadarenes were the people of the region of Gadara, a town in the Decapolis, which was located southeast of the Sea of Galilee in Biblical times. The region was primarily inhabited by Gentiles who were more Greek than Jews in culture. The Gadarenes were also known as pig herders, which indicates that they were not Jewish, as Levitical law prohibited eating pork” (Via Google search).
Matthew 8:34 states, “And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.”
It is sad that the pigs were more important than two demon possessed men. This speaks volumes about their priorities of the Gadarenes. At the same time, we cannot judge them to harshly, because this herd of pigs may very well have fed the Gadarenes for months to come.
Hence, when Jesus healed the men, the Gadarenes begged Jesus to leave. We need to remember that Satan will do what he can to . . .
· Keep others from knowing God and Jesus Christ.
· Demon possession was well known at that time, and when Jesus came into contact with any thus possessed, he cast the demons out.
· Some in the world were so tied to the world that they cared not about the men. Church, does this speak of us? Do we do what the Lord has commanded in seeking the lost? Are we striving to rear our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Do we love the world more than Jesus and the people he came to save? What is most important to you? To me?
THE PEOPLE OF NAZARETH – HIS OWN HOMETOWN. CAN YOU GO HOME AGAIN?
1. In Mark 6:1-6 we read, “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.”
The world today is becoming increasingly antagonistic to the preaching of the cross. The propaganda that is taught in schools and colleges have done what they can to deny that God exists, and that the Bible is not true. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. The skeptical will find ways to minimize the teaching of the cross.
The Nazarenes could not believe that Jesus was Messiah, hence, they rejected him. It is so sad that people today reject the Savior, the only one who can save them (and all of us) from sin and give them hope of an eternal life.
Beloved, do not listen to the clamor of the world. Remember that God loves us! And we should reciprocate that love by being obedient to the Savior of the world.
