Clay in the Hands

I have had plenty of rejection in my life, but three experiences rise to the surface for me.  One of those was a denial to enter the PhD program in seminary.  I committed my life to serving God professionally in high school and because of my love for students I planned on becoming a student minister.   But as I worked through my undergraduate studies in college, I began to have a deep passion for scripture and the history that goes with God’s word.  So I began to believe that God had plans for me to teach New Testament studies at the college level.  In order to prepare myself for that ministry, I had to earn a PhD.  So I completed the degrees necessary to enter that program, my undergraduate and a masters degree (I even through in an extra masters degree for good measure).  I took the tests, wrote the papers and did all the things required to be accepted into the PhD program – and then I waited.  Finally, the letter came in the mail – DENIED!

I was devastated.  I had spent the last eight years of my life fulfilling the requirements for acceptance and then, without explanation – rejected.  It was painful.  I felt completely alone.  But worse than all of that, I felt God’s back had been turned on me.  Obviously, that was not the case, but that is how I felt.  The road that I had been on for so long ended in a dead end and there were no detour – it was over.

I am sure you have experienced rejection in your life too.  It is a part of the package – if we are going to live, it means risk and anytime there is risk, there is the possibility of rejection.  Maybe for you it was a failed relationship. Or maybe it was a job promotion you felt you should have gotten but didn’t.  Or maybe an award you felt you deserved but didn’t get.  Whatever the situation, we all experience rejection.

While I am not trying to make everyone feel depressed today, I do want you to think about the pain of rejection.  Because that is what Jesus felt.  Some of the very people who were praising him five days ago were shouting “Crucify” today.  The disciples he had spent the last three years pouring his life into were no where to be found – in fact, Peter  openly denied he even knew Jesus.  But on top of all that rejection, on the cross, Jesus asked the question of God, “Why have you forsaken me?”

We must never downplay the physical pain of the cross event for Jesus.  It was the most brutal form of corporal punishment of that day.  But just as painful was the emotional rejection Jesus felt hanging there completely alone.  But the wonderful thing about Easter, the fact that makes this Good Friday, is that Jesus endured all of that willingly out of his love for the world – for you and for me.

That is what remember today – on this day!