"They Hated Me First"

14^th August 2010

After Jesus had encouraged His disciples to remain in relationship with Him, he turned to the question of their - and our - relationship with society:

John 15v18-20a
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 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. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. "

I live in a country where Christians are reasonably free, but I am aware that in many parts of the world, Christians are persecuted severely. Because we love God, because we find forgiveness in Christ, and because we want to share the wonderful gifts of God with our neighbours, Christians are beaten, raped, imprisoned, tortured and killed. Our homes and churches are destroyed, our jobs and land are taken away, and our families are broken up.

It seems bewildering that we come with a message of love and peace, and are rejected and punished for doing so. Why can't our neighbours and governments understand that we mean no harm, we represent no threat, we only want to share with others the love we have received from God? But Jesus reminds us that He was hated, too. He was so full of love for the world that He came to pay for our sins through His death. He healed the sick and taught us to love each other, but His neighbours reviled Him, his friend betrayed Him, His religious leaders falsely accused Him, and the occupying Roman army crucified Him.

Why should we expect to receive better treatment than our master, the Prince of Peace?

Jesus then said:

John 15v20b
"If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also."

We find, both in countries where we are persecuted and in those where we are largely free to speak the truth, that many of our neighbours refuse to listen when we tell them about God. They refuse the wonderful Good News of salvation through Jesus, they refuse to accept God's moral teaching, they laugh at us or shout us down, or just ignore us.

And Jesus says that, since that's how His neighbours treated Him, we should not be surprised that we get the same.

But there are always some who listen, some who find faith in Jesus and are born again into God's wonderful kingdom. It's worth all the insults and all the rejection, because we see people set free from sin, fear and guilt, and filled with love, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus continued:

John 15v21
"They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."

Many people know the name of Jesus. Far fewer know that God sent Jesus. Many of those who reject us think they know God, but they don't. Sometimes, our love, our joy and our peace make them uncomfortable because their own religions don't give them what Christ gives us, and they can get resentful, angry and defensive. We must forgive them. Until God opened our eyes to see, we too were separated from the true God.

But Jesus warns that God holds them accountable:

John 15v22
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin."

In Jesus Christ, God has come into the world. He has shown us God's character and has provided a way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to enter into true relationship with God Himself. And in the Bible, this is set down in writing for us.

In those areas of the world where Bibles are easy to obtain, there is no excuse for remaining ignorant about Jesus Christ, the Messiah. In those areas where the Bible is suppressed, the governments will come under the judgment of God. Pray for them, and for all Christians everywhere, that we endure and continue to tell our neighbours that Jesus is alive.