The Passover was at hand when Jesus spoke some final words to his followers. What he had to say likely disturbed them somewhat. The Gospel of John records the words of Jesus when he first warned his disciples they would be hated by nonbelievers, and the reason, he told them, was because “. . . it [the world] hated me first.” That must have been sobering news to hear the one they loved and who loved them speak of hatred. This is something Jesus hasn’t discussed with these men before now. Although they had witnessed the times of antagonism from the Sanhedrin toward Jesus, I can imagine they gave his words serious consideration. He was telling them to expect universal and continual hostility from the world in the coming days and years of their lives. Jesus leaves no doubt as to who he means when using the term ‘world’. He clearly means the peoples from all quarters of life who reject God. The choice is ours to make. Ask yourself this question: Do I enjoy the company of my non-believing friends? On the other hand, how about them, do they treat me as “one of the gang”? Maybe you’re uncomfortable in a worship setting. It might be time to reconsider where you are spiritually, after all it’s your personal life, and only you can set it straight. John 15: 18-25 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ Jesus explains why we are hated in straightforward words. In John 15:19 he says, “If you were of the world the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” There’s no gray area here; no compromise and no middle ground. It’s impossible to live with one foot in the world and the other in the church. We are either not of this world or we are of this world. Lastly, the world hates without any reason, and that, as we see every day, is a very dangerous state of mind. harrysthoughts/#!Jesus-Tells-Why-Christians-Are-Hated/c193z/1
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:58:12 +0000
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