Despised and Rejected of Men
March
23, 2002
WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC
65-0221E 117 Being eternal with Him at the beginning... The Eternal Life
that you had, His thought of what you was, only He wanted you to... He wanted
me to stand in the pulpit, say. He wanted you to set in the seat tonight. Then
we are serving His eternal purpose. And the one that left home, only come to
the earth to serve His purpose. Is that right? All right. Then after it's
finished, it's brought back in a glorified state. It's matured and brought back
again. No wonder
Paul could say when they was building a block to chop his head off. He said,
"Oh, death, where is your sting? Oh, grave, where is your victory? But
thanks be to God Who gives us the victory." He said, "Death, tell me
where you can make me holler. Grave, tell me, how you going to hold me, for I
am a possessor of Eternal Life." Amen. He recognized it. Death, hell,
grave, nothing could hold him. And nothing can hurt us, got Eternal Life. He
realized he was blessed with Eternal Life.
Notice that Brother Branham continues to
speak of the predestination of the Believer. He says, . And the one that left home, only come to the earth to
serve His purpose. Is that right? All right. Then after it's finished, it's
brought back in a glorified state. And then He continues by speaking
of the suffering and rejection the Believer must go through. No wonder Paul could say when they was building a block to
chop his head off. He said, "Oh, death, where is your sting? Oh, grave,
where is your victory? But thanks be to God Who gives us the victory." He
said, "Death, tell me where you can make me holler. Grave, tell me, how
you going to hold me, for I am a possessor of Eternal Life." Amen. He
recognized it. Death, hell, grave, nothing could hold him. And nothing can hurt
us, got Eternal Life. He realized he was blessed with Eternal Life.
Now, why was Paul put to death? Because He had the Living Gene Seed of
God in Him. I JOHN 3:1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
And because they do not know us, they will treat us the same way that
they treated God Himself when He borrowed the Body of His Own Son to manifest
Himself to the World.
I CORINTHIANS 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the
hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.
So we see then the result is not only rejection, but as a result
crucifixion. This brings us to look further into this relationship, or lack of
one that we are destined to have with the world. Remember, we have been
speaking of the image of the Son, which we are ordained to come into.
ROMANS 8:28 And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to [his] purpose. 29
¶ For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren. 30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Therefore, if we are to come into the image
of His dearly beloved Son, Who came forth in His Own Image, then we cannot
expect the world to receive us any differently. Therefore we must examine this reception that Our Older Brother
Jesus received.
To do so, let us go to the Old Testament to
see how He was ordained to come.
ISAIAH 53:1¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is
the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender
plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and
when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and
we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him
not.
I would like to entitle this message, the
Despised and Rejected King. Notice that he did not come forth in an image that
was enticing to the world. But rather, he came forth as a tender plant, looking
like a root out of dry ground, all shriveled and not so robust and healthy looking.
He had no natural beauty that men would look upon him with great admiration. He was just a man in there eyes, and a
mere small frail man at that. And yet the King of Glory dwelt in that frail
body. And this should tell us how the world looks upon man.
Jesus said, JOHN 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
It is only too human for men to judge others
by their outward appearance, but in doing so man crucified the Lord of Glory.
In the culture of men, we are raised up to believe that if you have then you
are someone who rates. If you have a large church it is because you must have a
wonderful ministry. If you have a large home, it is because you deserve it, and
have worked hard for it. If you are wealthy, you must have your act together.
And yet we see daily in our news reports
conflicting arguments to this supposition. We see many wealthy people today
that have received their wealth through illicit gain. People taking advantage
of others and becoming wealthy at the expense of their brethren. Athletes, that
cannot read and yet making millions from a society that prefers entertainment
to wholeness of character. There was a time when a man, no matter how good he
was in a sport, had to hold to a certain standard or he would be banished from
the team, but not so today. A man who can bring in paid attendance will make
millions and no one can tell him that rules to do so.
And so we see that God knew the hearts of
men that they are desperately wicked.
JEREMIAH 17:7 Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the
LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree
planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and
shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The
heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know
it? 10 I the LORD search the
heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and]
according to the fruit of his doings.
Therefore we see that man is above all
things a fallen creation, and unless He was ordained from the beginning to be
filled with God-Life, he will go the other way into wickedness and hatred for
God.
Now in getting back to our
main thought for today, God knew that man would despise and reject His Only
Begotten Son. And therefore we must ask ourselves why? Long before He came to
earth to manifest the Father to us, it was prophesied that God’s Only Begotten
Son would be despised and rejected. You would think that mankind would love and
esteem their creator so much that they would long to see and talk to the Lord
of Glory, and yet the opposite is true. The churches are full of people today who talk about how they want to meet
Him and how they will one day openly and lovingly greet Him, and yet their
words are shallow and filled with deception in their own hearts.
He came with Grace abounding
from His lips, and mercy for the needy, and poor, and his actions were ones,
which helped the lame and halt, and withered. You would think one who comes
with healing in His wings would be openly accepted and respected, but the
opposite is true. They despised Him and Rejected Him. The fact is, that it was
not the Son of God they despised but the Holy One Himself. The King of Glory.
We do not hear of rejection
in the lad Jesus. As a young man, we do not read of resentment and despite, nor
do we hear of the lad Jesus being rejected. Nowhere in Scripture is any evide3nce
given that the lad Jesus was despised and rejected of men. Then when did the
rejection begin? That is the answer we will begin to look into today.
I believe the despising and
rejection came when God began to manifest Himself in His Son after He entered Him
at the river Jordan. This despite and rejecting attitude toward Jesus was not
manifested until the Word entered into Him, and thus became manifested in Him.
JOHN 1:1
¶ In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made. 4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the
darkness comprehended it not…. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father,) full of grace and truth.
JOHN 3:16 For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the
light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Notice that the condemnation
is that they reject the light when it comes. Not so much the man, but the Light
that the man carries in His bosom. And then they turn their anger toward the
man, and run his persona into the ground. Therefore, we can see by the example
of Jesus that when the Word enters into the ordained vessel, man will begin to
despise that vessel.
PSALMS 14:1 ¶
The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have
done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the
children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are
[all] together become filthy: [there is] none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 ¶
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as]
they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
ROMANS 8:7
Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be.
There are basically three
reasons for the despising and rejecting of our Lord Jesus Christ.
#1) Doctrine
#2) Doctrine
#3) Doctrine.
He was not despised for His
actions. He was despised for what he said. The doctrine that His Father Gave
Him to speak.
JOHN 10:24
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make
us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. (Look, they really did not want to know, for
had they really wanted to know, Jesus would not have answered them the way he
did.) 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not (He said, Look, I’ve
already told you but you are not believers, so how can you believe me when I
tell you the Truth. Then notice, he says, I don’t expect you to believe me
based on my doctrine, but God has stood behind my doctrine and has vindicated
me.) the works that I do in my Father's name, they
bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe
not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
29My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to
pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. 30
I and [my] Father are one. 31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone
him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good
works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone
me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For
a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being
a man, makest thyself God. (Now,
look, it all boils down to their preconceived theology. These people were
Oneness, and did not understand what Jesus was telling them. When He said, I
and my Father are One they, like the Oneness today, misunderstood what he was
saying. And they wanted to kill him for it. Oh, today they might not physically
kill, but in words and deeds they will try to destroy your influence. And they
would kill today if the laws did not prevent them from doing so. Now, notice
how they did not understand what Jesus meant when he said “I and my Father are
One”.
Jesus goes on to explain that
to them in verse 34.) 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye
are gods? 35 If he called them gods,
unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye
of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou
blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (Notice, He never
claimed to be God , but the Son of God. But because they were so indoctrinated
into this Oneness teaching they could not understand what He was telling them.)
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me
not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may
know, and believe, that the Father [is]
in me, and I in him. (Notice he tells them, Look, I and My
Father are One because the Father is in Me. That is how I can do these works.
Because My Father is dwelling in me. That is what makes us One. As the Father worketh, so the Son worketh Hitherto.)39 ¶ Therefore they
sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away
again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he
abode.
Wars have always been waged
for principles. The record of mankind is fraught with wars and most of them
have been wars of principles and greed. Even today the war that is going on
with the Arab world is a war between the Trinitarian World and the Oneness.
These two factions have
always warred upon each other, and when a man comes along and declares that
they are both wrong, then he gets hit by both sides, just like William Branham
is so attacked not only by the Trinitarians, but also the Oneness, or Jesus
Only. In the Alpha, Israel was at war with Rome. Rome, the Trinitarian state
had conquered Israel the Oneness state, and forced her to yield to the Roman
laws. But when the Son of God came forth proclaiming they were both wrong, then
you can see how they both began to work together to put an end to this
outsider. The Jews (Oneness) not only went along with the Romans
(Trinitarians), but actually manipulated them into putting to death this man
with the correct revelation of Godhead.
JOHN 7:14 ¶
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and
taught. 15 And the Jews marveled,
saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (By what authority does this man speak, what
seminary did he go to?) 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his
own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and
no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did
not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye
about to kill me? 20 The people
answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel, (you don’t understand). 22 Moses therefore
gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;)
and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of
Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every
whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but
judge righteous judgment. 25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and
they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very
Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man
whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28 Then
cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know
whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye
know not. 29 But I know him: for I am
from him, and he hath sent me. 30
Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his
hour was not yet come.
Now, I propose to you that there were three doctrines, which caused his
being despised and rejected.
#1) The Godhead
#2) The Presence
#3) Twins
Next week we will examine these three doctrines as taught by Jesus and
we will see positive proof that it was the preaching of these three that
brought about his being despised and rejected.