If The World Hates You!

If the World Hates You

John 15:18-25

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

Over 2,000 years ago the world received one of the best gifts ever given to humanity, a Babe lying in a manger! Despite lacking the “beauty of majesty to attract us to Him” (Isaiah 53:2), having no earthly place to call home (Matthew 8:20), and gathering mostly uneducated fishermen as followers, Jesus, whom the prophets foretold (Isaiah 9:6) came and inaugurated a kingdom without end (Luke 1:31-33)! Even though He had the power to summon “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53) and could have rightfully condemned humanity for defying His Father (Romans 3:23, 6:23) with a mere word, He willingly opted not only to wash humanity’s feet but also to be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, so that through His wounds, we might experience healing (Isaiah 53:5). Christ chose to relinquish the glory He had in heaven, dwelling among us and performing miracles that have echoed through the centuries. The mere recounting of His incredible ability to cast out demons, heal the sick, cure the lame and blind is awe-inspiring. Yet, beyond that, Christ also miraculously fed both five and four thousand and quelled the most turbulent seas! But as spectacular as these miracles may be, there is nothing that can surpass the significance of His crucifixion, where He paid the price for our sins (Romans 6)! Despite knowing beforehand that fulfilling His mission would lead to His own people shouting, “crucify Him, crucify Him” (Luke 23:21) His siblings thinking He had lost His mind (Mark 3:21), and all but the Apostles except John abandoned Him at the cross, Jesus, out of love, willingly gave His life. This act allows us, through faith in His atoning sacrifice, to inherit eternal life as children of His Father. Given the profound sacrifice and importance of this gift, what is the current perspective of Jesus in the world?

The World Hates Jesus

“Once an African chief, in this case a woman, happened to visit a mission station. Hanging outside the cabin, on a tree, was a little mirror. The chief happened to look into the mirror and saw her reflection, with its hideous paint and evil features. She gazed at her own terrifying countenance and jumped back in horror exclaiming, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?” “Oh,” the missionary said, “it is not in the tree. The glass is reflecting your own face.” The African would not believe it until she held the mirror in her hand. She said, “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?” “Oh,” the missionary said, “I don’t want to sell it.” But she begged until he capitulated. She took the mirror. Exclaiming, “I will never have it making faces at me again,” she threw it down and broke it to pieces.’

The world’s response to Jesus is one of hatred. The world hunted Jesus “from Bethlehem to Egypt, from Nazareth to Capernaum, from Gergesa to Jerusalem. When individuals scrutinize the teachings and actions of Jesus, their reactions were polarized into either “deep-seated hatred or profound love.” Those in the world, particularly those in defiance of God, harbored animosity towards Him for various reasons. First, the Jewish people resented Him because He didn’t align with their expectations of a triumphant Messiah. They anticipated a powerful and judgmental figure, akin to the One who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, to rise, conquer Rome, and subjugate their enemies. The concept of a suffering servant willing to sacrifice His life as a ransom for the many contradicted their ingrained sense of religious superiority. Second, many hated Jesus because His holiness “revealed their spiritual bankruptcy.” It is easy to appear righteous when comparing oneself to the “world’s values, pleasures, pastimes, and aspirations” but quite another to use the Lord’s holiness mirror to pear into one’s soul! Unlike the Pharisees Jesus’ words and deeds were “not arrogant, selfish, mean, or hypocritical.” Jesus exemplified the essence of seeking and obeying the will of God the Father in heaven. This sinless Lamb of God was impeccable not only in outward appearance but also in the depths of His being. Those who harbored hatred towards Him did so because the closer they approached Him, the more acutely aware they became of their true selves – revealing a lukewarm or outright defiant disposition toward anyone claiming sole authority over their hearts. Conversely, for those who recognized their stony hearts as an opportunity for repentance and faith in His atoning sacrifice, Jesus granted them the privilege of becoming children of God. These individuals responded with wholehearted love, dedicating their heart, mind, soul, and strength to Him!

The World Hates His Disciples

Because of their belief in Jesus the world hates believers as well! Most people want to be loved and respected. Genuine friendships are cultivated through the sharing of common interests and goals. According to 1 John 3:13f, when a person passes from “death to life,” they cease to belong to this world and become one of God’s chosen people, described as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His possession” in 1 Peter 2:9. Following Jesus leads believers to live in a way that starkly contrasts with the world, drawing attention to their distinctive lifestyle. The purpose of this uniqueness is to proclaim the praises of the one who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. As believers resist living to satisfy self-seeking passions on the path of destruction, they become increasingly distinct. Christ emphasized in John 3:20 that the world may reject them because their lives, both internally and externally, point to the light, exposing the darkness of worldly deeds. This rejection is a consequence of the radical difference in lifestyle that believers adopt, serving the purpose of reflecting the transformative power of God’s grace. Jesus assures in John 15:20 that if the world persecuted Him, His followers would also face persecution. Martin Luther articulated the idea that speaking “the name of Christ would be perceived by the world as nothing but poison and death.” The persecution experienced by believers is not directed at them personally; rather, it stems from the world’s inability to directly target Jesus. Consequently, they settle for directing their opposition towards His followers.