When you want something very badly and get rejected it hurts but when you don't want something and it is denied you it isn't so bad. It might even be a relief.
I don't think Jesus came to Earth wanting people to like him. I think He came knowing most people would reject Him but came anyway.
" He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying,
The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:20-27 KJV
At that point, Jesus didn't want the disciples to talk about Him being the Messiah because He wanted to be rejected on the right terms. He wanted his enemies to hear His words echoing in their heads so that after the cross there would be conversions... and there were... some of the people that cried out for His death at the cross got converted when Peter preached at Pentecost.
Evil should reject God and the things of God. Evil isn't sin. Evil is a kingdom opposed to God that gives alternative provisions. This kind of rejection is right. It shows a person to be on a clear side... the wrong side.
I think confrontational evangelism is healthy because of the rejection not in spite of it. It is very good for those who have been rejected or have a fear of rejection. The only way to effectively deal with fear is to face and master it... not once... many times.
It is also potentially good for the hard-hearted people who do the face-to-face rejecting. When you reject someone just for loving you it haunts you and may make you susceptible to changing influences.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 KJV
I think the shame Jesus despised wasn't the world's rejection... It was the Father's rejection... He had the shame of the whole world on His body, mind and soul.
When someone you love rejects you that is very very painful. Jesus endured that ultimate pain so we wouldn't have to. He went to a hell we as believers will never face.
We think we need acceptance, love and support from everyone around us but maybe that isn't what we need at all. Jesus had a few close friends and a world that wanted to kill Him and He wouldn't have it any other way. That is an aspect of the the 'mind of Christ' we can have and embrace.
That is a lesson we can all learn from.
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