Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Advent-Christmas Devotional - 2017 - single page | Page 28

Rejected, though Undeserved
Saturday, December 23rd
Isaiah 53:4-6
In grade school, there were two boys living in two completely different worlds. Johnny was popular, but
had questionable grades. Benjamin was unpopular, but had excellent grades. These two boys were at the
same school, in the same grade, in the same classroom, and rode the same bus. They saw each other every
day, but they never spoke to one another. That is until Johnny was in trouble. Johnny’s grades had
become so bad, that his teacher said if they didn’t improve, he would be held back a grade. As a result, the
teacher offered him a solution: Benjamin. Benjamin volunteered to help Johnny with his school work
every day after class.
It was an incredibly kind gesture from someone Johnny had no relationship with. Every day, Benjamin met
with Johnny after school. Weeks went by and the report cards came home. Johnny made the grades. A few
days later, as Benjamin was carrying his lunch tray in the cafeteria, one of Johnny’s friends tripped
Benjamin causing his tray to spill all over the floor. Johnny sat there. Johnny did not help Benjamin.
Instead, he said, “Nice one, nerd.” How could he do that? Benjamin spared his time for him, he was kind to
him, and what did he do to deserve that kind of rejection?
The answer is: nothing. Perhaps you have experienced a similar form of undeserved rejection and can
relate to how Benjamin felt. This story reminds me of Jesus for a particular reason. After that event,
Benjamin still met with Johnny every day after school to continue to help him with his homework. Johnny
didn’t deserve it. When we consider today the interaction between ourselves and our God, it is really no
different. We have not and will not live worthy lives. Despite the amount of grace God has given us, we still
regularly sin. Isaiah reminds us that despite this, even knowing this, Jesus still comes to us. Because of our
sin we don’t deserve kindness, but that is what we get from Jesus, to the extent that he suffers the eternal
pain, the piercing, the crushing, and the wounds of our sins. See how gracious our God is!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, let us never forget how much you love us as you have proven through the undeserved
punishment you suffered for our sake. Amen.
Activity: Think of some ways you have been hurt when you didn’t deserve it and offer forgiveness for it.
Think of some ways you have been helped when you didn’t deserve it and offer thanks for it.
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