Despised and Rejected

Posted on Aug 8, 2019

The theology round-table program, WHITE HORSE INN(Sun 800, Tue 1500, Fri 200) continues its year-long survey of the Gospel of John. This August, the series walk through chapters 12 and 13.

Although many ultimately came to believe in Christ, the Judean authorities and most of his own people rejected him. Why did this happen? On “Who Has Believed Our Report?” (week of August 11), we’ll see that Christ’s rejection was foretold by the prophet Isaiah centuries in advance.

The series arrives at John 13 in “The Servant Leader” (week of August 18), which discusses Jesus’ washing of his disciples’ feet and the fascinating cultural background to this scene which helps to shed light both on the significance of Jesus’ actions and what it means for us today. What lessons should we draw from the fact that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet? How did people think about foot washing in the ancient world, and why was it necessary in the first place?

Jesus was not only despised and rejected by the Judaean authorities, but was also betrayed by one of his twelve disciples. Though the prophets told of this, still, John writes that Jesus was deeply troubled by Judas’ actions, particularly because it set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to his crucifixion. Nonetheless, it was for this hour that Jesus came into the world. August ends with “The Betrayal”.