John 15:18-27 CSB
"If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. [20] Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. [21] But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don't know the one who sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] The one who hates me also hates my Father. [24] If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason. [26] "When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father -the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father-he will testify about me. [27] You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Psalm 35:13-16 CSB
Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine. [14] I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother. [15] But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop. [16] With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.
Hated for no Reason
Most of us have had the experience of being hated by others. Maybe it was jealousy because you had something they wanted, or you achieved what they did not. Perhaps you were simply in the way of someone’s promotion at work. In these moments, people often start rumors that spread as rumors do. The mold is cast. People latch onto hurtful words, and suddenly your reputation feels like nothing.
As Christians, we are told that this will happen—especially when we stand up for our faith and tell others about Jesus. This might even come as physical violence. If we suffer for His sake, it might actually mean we are exactly where we need to be.
However, we must be careful not to use our faith as an excuse for every hurt we suffer. An honest inventory of our actions might show that it isn’t our faith that turned people against us, but our own earthly actions bringing judgment upon ourselves. This requires time in prayer, talking to a well-balanced Christian friend or pastor, and being taught by the Spirit to understand the true intent behind the hurt. But when we take a truthful stand for the Lord, we should expect to be treated exactly the way Jesus was and is treated.
Jesus is the Creator of the universe; everything in heaven and on earth is in His hands. He has the power to overcome His adversaries forcefully. While there will come a time when every knee will bow, for now, each person is allowed to choose their own course. Bad things happen in this world because people are permitted to make choices.
When Jesus was persecuted, He had the power to prevent it. He could have called thousands of angels to protect Himself—knowing that a single angel was capable of defeating an entire army (2 Kings 19:35). Instead, He gave Himself for us out of love, even while surrounded by the ingratitude and jealousy of those who opposed Him.
As followers, we should expect to endure for the Lord, even if we have the power to strike back or prevent the discomfort. We may face the aversion of those who hate us without reason, meeting their ingratitude with our continued reach of love. Those who suffer for Him will reign with Him. This isn’t because the pain saves us, but because enduring it proves we are truly living out our faith.
The Apostles were with Jesus from the beginning—from the days of John the Baptist until Jesus returned to the Father. They became the witnesses of His ministry and the keepers of His words. Jesus gave them the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, so they could be true witnesses to the world and so that we can be witnesses today.
We tell others the Good News that Jesus loves them and wants fellowship with them. He wants to free them from the evil one who enslaves this world—free them to eternal life. But just as it was in the Judean countryside, everyone still has the choice to walk away when they are called. Our job is simply to testify out of love.
Reflection Questions
- When you feel “persecuted” or disliked, do you take it to the Lord in prayer to see if it’s for His name’s sake, or if there is an area of your own character that needs smoothing out?
- Jesus could have called an army of angels but chose love instead. In your own life, when you have the power to “get even” or defend your reputation forcefully, how can you choose the path of the Master instead?
- Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit testifies about Him, and so must we. Is there someone in your life who has “hated for no reason” that you can still reach out to with the simple truth of God’s love?
Prayer
Father,
I thank You for Your grace, dear Jesus. Give me the discernment to know when I am suffering for Your name and the humility to see when I am simply suffering for my own mistakes. Help me to remain in Your love even when the world shows hate for Your Word. Fill me with Your Spirit of Truth so that I can be a faithful witness, sharing the light of Your Kingdom with a world that is often blind to it. Let my life be a testimony correctly reflecting Your truth to a dying world.
Amen.
