Despising The Word

By Scott K. Miller

August 12, 2026

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief….

When the Messiah came into the world, the Father announced His birth with a grand angelic choir. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men” they sang. God invaded His-story. Unbelievable, inconceivable!   

Earth experienced an alien invasion—not with a flying saucer, but by means of the Spirit overshadowing a virgin. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14).

His coming was an alien invasion because Isaiah states that Messiah was a tender plant. A tender plant is one that is not native to an area. A hardy plant finds the soil and climate where it lives congenial because it belongs there. A tender plant doesn’t find its new location congenial at all. It belongs somewhere else. Jesus was not native to our shores. He came into a foreign, sin-infected world. His nature was not like ours. Our social and spiritual climate were foreign to Him.

He wore no kingly robes but homespun garments. He spoke Aramaic with a thick Galilean accent. His teaching was novel; it brought conviction to His listeners. When He spoke, HIs words were exactly the ones the Father wanted Him to use. The miracles He performed evidenced His heavenly origin.  

He came because God so loved the world of individuals and desired reconciliation with them. He died and rose again to make that possible.

And yet, He was despised and rejected. His own people exhibited contempt and deep repugnance for Him. They despised the Word (John 1:1). They rejected the Truth (John 14:6).  How heartbreaking that had to be!

Yet today, there are believers who still despise His Word. Despise not prophesyings (1Th 5:20). That is to say, don’t look with contempt or repugnance on strong Bible-preaching.

Reflection—Every church has some billy goat Christians. “I know what the Bible says, but…” Don’t you be one.