Continued from Chapter 22f
53:3: “He was despised, and rejected of men … and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
Comparing the description of the servant with that of Jesus.
Rejection of the servant contrasts greatly with the Gospel accounts of the extent of Jesus’ popularity throughout his life generally (Luke 2:52) and during his public ministry in particular. The servant is said to be “despised,” “rejected,” one “from whom men hide their face” and not “esteemed. In the case of the servant, disappointment at a lack of true loyalty is not the issue. In verse 3, nothing is said about the servant’s adversaries at one time being his followers, let alone that they had unworthy motives in initially following him. They never were the servant’s followers to begin with.
What do the Gospels say about Jesus?
The Synoptic Gospels in particular insist that Jesus was greatly admired by large segments from every level of society. It is further claimed that wherever Jesus went crowds flocked about him. The Gospels claim that it was not only the poor masses that followed him, but even people of means were attracted to him. What is more, they maintain, many were his loyal followers. Even though the Gospels claim that the Jewish rulers condemned Jesus they nevertheless assert that Jesus had many followers even from among the ruling class. They speak of Jesus as one who, while losing, at times, many of his followers, always had, even at the end of his life, a great many faithful adherents from every strata of society. Nevertheless, John says that Jesus felt many followed him for unworthy motives and so he said to them: “You seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26). John also claims that “He came to his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). However, overall the Gospels allege that Jesus was enthusiastically received and esteemed and that this feeling did not end with his death.
Quotable quotes
- The Gospels’ Jesus is described by average folk with superlatives titles (e.g., the Prophet [like Moses] who is to come into the world—John 6:14, Messiah [Christ]—Luke 23:39, Son of David—Matthew 20:30). These words of praise are the exact opposite of those used to describe one who is despised and rejected.
- The Gospels claim that when Jesus’ notoriety spread throughout all the districts surrounding Galilee he taught in the synagogues and was “glorified by all” (Luke 4:14-15).
- “And the news about him went out into all Syria” (Matthew 4:24).
- As his fame grew, it is maintained: “a great crowd came together with those who went to him from the various cities” (Luke 8:4).
- “And great crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from the other side of the Jordan” (Matthew 4:25).
- It is reported the press of the crowds was tremendous (Luke 7:11; 8:19, 45).
- In the city of Nain, a large part of the populace calls Jesus a great prophet and says that God has visited His people (Luke 7:12, 16).
Who do the Gospels say followed Jesus?
The Women: Many of those who followed him were women who contributed to the needs of Jesus and his disciples (Luke 8:3). While Jesus and his male disciples traveled through the cities and villages of Galilee “proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God” they were accompanied by women: “who had been healed of evil spirits and sickness,” including “Mary, called Magdalene … Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Suzanna, and many others, who were contributing to their support out of their private means” (Luke 8:1-3). At Jesus’ execution “many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him” (Matthew 27:55). Luke also mentions that after his execution “the women who had come with him out of Galilee followed after, and saw the tomb and how his body was laid” (Luke 23:55). Mark maintains that there were “women looking from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,” adding that they had followed him in Galilee and “ministered to him.” He adds that there were also: “many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem” (Mark 15:40-41)
Other followers, wise and otherwise: John states that many of the Jews believed in Jesus (John 12:11). Many of the rulers secretly believed in him (John 12:42). Luke mentions that even some of the Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod was planning to kill him and urged him to escape (Luke 13:31). Mark relates how Jairus, ruler of the synagogue, became a believer (Mark 5:36). When Jesus entered Jerusalem, it was to the accompanying shouts of “Hosanna” coming from the crowds (Matthew 21:9) that declared: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). Matthew and Mark respectively inform us that Jesus taught the crowds in the Temple and that his enemies were afraid to arrest him because they feared the multitudes who listened to him enthusiastically (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12, 37). When his enemies made their final plans to arrest him, they decided: “Not during the festival, lest there be an uproar among the people” (Matthew 26:5, Mark 14:1-2; see also Luke 22:2).
Continued