Rejection Of Jesus by West End Church of Christ

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Rejection Of Jesus Why would anyone refuse to be a follower of Jesus Christ? Why would He refuse to accept those who are just "would-be" disciples? It is really unbelievable that many people continually refuse to be simple followers of Christ, that men would actually and openly reject Him as their Lord and Savior, but sadly many do. Today on our broadcast, we want to study this important issue. But first, The West End Church of Christ presents these fifteen minute lessons every Sunday. We have only one reason for doing it -- we want to preach the truth of God's word without being restricted by human doctrines, creeds, and wisdom. That is why we repeatedly ask anyone who listens to communicate with us if you do not agree with what we teach on this program. This is not done out of a spirit of dare, or challenge, but in sincerity and in the interest of being absolutely right about the most important issue of this life and of eternity. We also want to invite you to attend our services. Bible study begins at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. We have classes for all ages in which the Bible is discussed and made relevant to living in this world today. At 10 each Sunday morning we assemble to worship -- we honor God in the reading and teaching of His word, several prayers, gospel songs, giving of our means, and partaking of the sacred memorial feast of the Lord's Supper. Sunday evening we assemble for worship at 6 p.m and mid-week Bible study is each Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Our meeting house is located at the corner of Parkside Drive and Old Morgantown Road, just across from Lampkin Park and Tapp's Drive-in restaurant. You will be warmly welcomed. A study of the gospel according to Matthew brings one to the understanding that many people stubbornly refused to believe in Christ while He lived in their midst, taught them, and often helped them in a way no other could. From that time on the majority of people across the world refuse to accept Him as the Christ of God Almighty, the one and only Son of God. The proof that He came into the world and clothed Himself in a human body for a short period of time is overwhelming. He was truly God in human flesh. His very words, His great works, His horrible death, His victorious resurrection from the dead, and His crowning ascension all speak clearly that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). In spite of these facts, men reject Him. John wrote, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11). Jesus sadly declared, "And ye will not come to me that ye might have life" (John 5:40). Just before He was brutally executed on the cross, those whom He came to save cried out, "We will not have this man to reign over us (Luke 19:14). This was one of the greatest tragedies of all human history. Consider the various responses to Christ recorded by the inspired writers of the four gospels. The world of Christ's day and ours, in one way, sits as a judge over Christ Himself. But the judgment of this world is like a judge who has heard an open-and-shut case and then renders a decision totally opposite to the facts presented. Consider the following things in order. 1. The authority of Christ while among men was so absolute and unique that people were "astonished at His doctrine; for He taught them as one having authority" (Matthew 7:28-29). Yet they finally did away with Him and refused to obey that authority. 2. The way He taught was unparalleled. John 7:46 records the reaction of officers of the court who were sent to bring Jesus into custody but didn't. Their excuse for disobedience to a direct court order was very simply, "Never man spoke like this man." In John 9, the record of the restoration of sight to a man born blind reveals more of the response to His work. A man, blind from birth, responded to the Jewish authorities who questioned him, "Why here is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from where He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes ... If this man were not of God, He could do nothing" (verses 30,33). 3. Christ's display of wisdom was unique and superhuman. There was a Jewish party called the Herodians, a party of Jews who remained loyal to the Herods. These Jews were favorable to Roman occupation and domination of their homeland. They came to Jesus with a coin and asked, "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" (Verse 17). Jesus simply replied, "Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" and these men "marveled" (Verses 21-22). But they still rejected Him. 4. His sinlessness was beyond question. He defied the Pharisees, another very strict sect of Jewish religionists, "Which of you convicteth Me of sin?" (John 8:46). None of them could; very few of them became His loyal followers. 5. He always spoke the truth. This in itself is unique. He asked, "If I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?" (John 8:46). Would it not seem just and fair for men who claim to be very religious to accept pure truth? But these men refused it. 6. He manifested the greatest of all power among men. This seems to have captivated His disciples who exclaimed, "What manner of man is this! For He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him" (Luke 8:25). Jesus had more influence with the forces of the physical world than He did with most of the people of His day -- and of ours. 7. What He taught was also unequaled. No teacher could ever have competed with Him. We read, "the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" (John 7:15). As a lad of twelve years of age He baffled the greatest minds of Jerusalem with His innate knowledge for the Bible says that the great Jewish teachers in the temple "were amazed at His understanding and answers" (Luke 2:47). But many of the very same men never became His disciples. It was very clear to all open hearts and minds to Christ, that He was not like other men. By no means was He ordinary, although He was like men, in some ways. His earthly existence was puzzling and mysterious in one sense, yet in another His warmth and love for people made Him a man to whom the downcast and burdened of this world could fully relate. When Jesus looked at people, He saw them as both God and man look upon others. While He could read clearly their inner thoughts and purposes, He also could be sympathetic with their weaknesses. He never gave any evidence of personal human weaknesses, but He understood every person so fully that He could give wise counsel and comfort to those who suffer from human frailty. To a woman taken in the very act of adultery, He could show compassion without condoning her sin (John 8:1- 11). But to hypocrites who placed themselves far above other mortals, He could sternly denounce them without any fear of being contradicted (Matthew 23 provides a collection of His strong rebuke of such hypocrisy.) There is really only one way to accept Christ as Savior. That is best articulated by quoting His own words. "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it" (Matthew 16:24-26). Such a mandate is true for every generation of humanity ever to set foot on this planet. But denying self is not easy. It means that I am not permitted to set my own faith -- my faith is based upon His word (John 17:20). It means that I do not choose my own way of submitting to Him -- I submit to the things He commands (Luke 6:46). I cannot choose my own way to serve Him as His disciple -- I submit to the way He outlines. I cannot even join the church I like the best -- I must allow Him to add me to His church (Acts 2:38,47). And in all of these things, Jesus has chosen once and for all through the faith that has been fully and finally revealed (Jude 3). To submit to Christ now, dear friend, hear what He teaches. "If you believe not that I am He you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). "Except you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven" (John 3:5). "Upon this rock I will build MY church..." (Matthew 16:19). Upon your full obedience to Him, He will save you from sin and add you to the one and only church He ever built. If we can explain any of these things more fully to you; if you have a question about any of these things that have been said -- please contact us. Our mailing address is West End Church of Christ, 1609 Parkside Drive, Bowling Green, Ky. 42101. If you would like our free paper, the Voice of West End, please let us know. Thank you again -- we appreciate the opportunity to come to you each Sunday on this radio station and hope you'll be back here again next Sunday -- 8 a.m. Goodbye and God bless you. Radio Sermon No. 31