If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. John 15:18 WEB
Jesus’ final teachings to his disciples are full of reassurances. The Lord was preparing his faithful for the difficult days that were ahead of them. The disciples had seen Christ in his glory, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and even raising the dead. Now, they would see him arrested, crucified, and resurrected from the grave.
After that, the eleven remaining disciples would encounter immense opposition while spreading the truth of the gospel message. With his words, “if the world hates you,” Jesus prepares them for the persecution they would encounter. In addition, he explains why they will have trouble and comforting words to encourage them in their struggle.
In John 15:19, Jesus describes the reason the world will hate his followers saying, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. WEB”
A Servant Is Not Greater Than His Lord
Jesus had told the disciples in John 13:16, “Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. WEB” The Lord reminds his disciples of this principle and adds John 15:20, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. WEB”
As followers of Christ, we are called out of the world to live in obedience to God. This can cause difficulty for true believers. But not all trouble comes from our faith in Christ. When we are conformed to the will of God and people lash out at us, this is not our fault but the natural reaction of those who are at enmity with God. When our troubles come from our own failings, they are simply the consequences of our own misguided behavior.
Persecuted for our faith, we should rejoice. If the world hates you, remember it hated Jesus first. On the other hand, when we suffer consequences for behavior that is out of step with the teachings of Christ, we should repent. In either case, remember these words of Christ from John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. KJV”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for revealing yourself to the world in Jesus Christ. Thank you for the teaching of your holy word. Help me to live in submission to your will. Help me to endure trouble with grace and peace. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Relief From Days of Trouble
