Dear Family,
Today is Thursday, May 21, 2026. Today is Day 47 and Day 5 of Week 7 in our Count to Pentecost. The Bible describes Jesus as a man Who was despised in Isaiah.
Isaiah 53:3(A) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…
In hindsight, we now recognize Jesus as the Savior He is and we may wonder why He was ever despised. One of the simplest reasons is the same as why men love darkness rather than light.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Other specific reasons may include Jesus’ public recognition of and criticism of the Jewish leaders as hypocrites who were holding up their beloved traditions over the clear commandments of God and laying heavy burdens on the people they should have been serving and teaching. The hypocrites were of the “world.
Matthew 23:4, 13 (4) For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (13) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Jesus’ being despised and hated was prophesied.
John 15:18, 25 (18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you… (25) But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law (Psalms 35:19; 69:4), They hated Me without a cause.
Jesus’ has forewarned us that as His faithful followers we will also be hated. His Example has been set to encourage us through whatever trials of hatred and persecutions may come.
He leaves us great words of comfort.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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