Dealing With Our Fear Of Rejection
Written by Richard Gammill
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi", "where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come and see."
John 1:35-42
The scene around the table at what we know as the Last Supper vibrates with controlled emotions. As Jesus passed around the cup to be divided between His followers, He said, “The hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.”
A few minutes later He looked at Peter who had just strenuously declared that he was prepared to follow Jesus even though it would mean prison and even death. Imagine the pain in Jesus’ heart when he said, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Sure enough, only a few hours later:
A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. - (Luke 22:56-62)
Jesus knew rejection from the very beginning of His ministry and even at the last by one of his closest followers. Yet His last words on the cross were, “Father, forgive them.”
He forgave Peter even before Peter denied Him, giving us a powerful clue as to how we can handle our fear of rejection. When we offer any invitation to someone, we know there is a possibility of our invitation being declined and that may make us feel rejected. But when we take the focus off of ourselves and think instead of the reason we are making the invitation—which is our regard for our friend—it will help us reduce the fear.
“Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18)