Daily Devotions
John
John 15:18-27 "DEEP LESSONS ON HOW TO COPE WITH THE HATRED OF THE WORLD"
Day 224 – John 15
DEEP LESSONS ON HOW TO COPE WITH THE HATRED OF THE WORLD
Jesus did not merely alert the Disciples to the fact that the world would hate them! He actually sought to teach them how they could cope with the hatred of the world. Let us take time to consider what Jesus taught His Disciples about how they may cope with a wicked world that would be hostile to them.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me
before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
Yet, because you are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19
1. Remembering how the world hated Jesus
Jesus knew the power of hate. Its power could devastate the strongest character. It was natural to respond to love and to cringe at hate. How could the Disciples cope with the cruel hatred of the world?
When the Disciples felt the heat of the hatred of the world, they must recall the fact that the world hated Jesus first! Somehow, this thought would bring encouragement and strength to the fainting heart.
This was a truth-principle that Peter the Apostle learned well. He employed this knowledge in his first general epistle to believers who were suffering persecution from a world that hated them. He pointed the suffering of Christ to encourage his readers. He wrote,
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust…”
1 Peter 3:18
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves also with the same mind…”
1 Peter 4:1
Peter’s mention of Christ and His suffering confirmed for us the truth-principle that Jesus taught His Disciples! Dwelling on Jesus and His suffering enables the believer to arm himself in his battle against a hostile world. He draws strength from the knowledge that he does not suffer alone. He draws comfort from the fact that Jesus Himself suffered greatly at the hands of the unjust! He draws power to soldier on bravely, even though he may be suffering intensely.
2. Understanding why the world hates believers
Why was the world so hostile to believers? Many reasons may be cited. Jesus highlighted one of the reasons. The world viewed believers as if they did not belong! They were different! This seems to be a “strange” reason, but it is true nonetheless.
In any society or country, hostility is expressed towards those who do not belong. At best, there is politeness or courtesy. “Strangers” are sometimes shunned or turned away. The reason is simply because the community notes that the “strangers” are different. (This is the idea behind the concept expressed in the word “xenophobia”- the fear of strangers).
The world has set its norms. It may be secular, for example, and would resent the presence of something that is religious or spiritual in nature. The world, if it has its own religious ideologies, would differ from that represented by Jesus, and would thus resent and reject that which it does not recognize as its own.
If the world were to accept Jesus and all that He taught, it would first try and compromise all that He stood for. It would neutralize or modify in some ways what Jesus taught, and in the long run, change and corrupt what He represented.
If the believer decides to stand firmly on what he has been taught by Jesus, then he must also be prepared to suffer the wrath and hatred of the world. The world system figures that it must exert its power and authority over all who lives in the world. Either one complies and bends with the wind, or one is broken in the process.
3. Chosen out of the world
The Disciples must remember another important truth-principle! Jesus had chosen them out of the world! This was something that the world system would never accept! It is as if the believer has turned its back on the world. He has identified himself with Jesus! He is indeed different from the world now! He must also be prepared to suffer, as the world made Jesus suffer!
If the Disciples were to accept the calling of Jesus to follow Him, then they must also be prepared to suffer with Him! This was a solemn teaching that Jesus reminded His Disciples of, time and again! He did not hide the fact that those who believed in Him must not be afraid to lay down their lives for His sake!
Let us consider a powerful truth-statement that Jesus once made.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat
falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;
but if it dies, it produces much grain.
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life
in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
John 12:24-25
Jesus spoke about being prepared to suffer and die. He was the Perfect example for the Disciples! He practised what He preached!
CULTIVATING A TOUGH MINDSET
It takes a very tough-minded person to be able to endure suffering. Hatred often spawns cruel acts aimed at causing pain and suffering! The believer is challenged to cultivate a strong and tough mindset. He would do well to take heed of what Jesus taught His Disciples concerning the cruel hatred of the world. The wise disciple learns to hide the words of Jesus deep in his heart.