Hated by the
world - John 15:18-16:4
Jonathan Stephen -
Chapter 15 has been all about the three basic relationships that Christians experience: with Christ (verses 1-11), with each other (verses 12-17) and with the world. This last category, which takes us into Chapter 16, is our subject this morning. (By the 'world' in this context is meant the settled rebellion of sinful humanity.)
How the world reacts to the faithful
Christian
Jesus is unequivocal - the world's attitude to the faithful Christian is one of hatred leading to persecution. Although advertising this truth (2 Timothy 3:12) is not how Christianity is currently 'marketed', concealing it cheapens and distorts the gospel. This we must not do - especially not now. In the earliest days of Christianity, the hostile world was represented by unbelieving Jews (16:1-2). Today, 16:2 does not seem so far-fetched in the light of the threat of some factions of fundamentalist Islam. Add to that the increasing hostility of the secular West, and we can see how
timely these warnings are.
Why the world reacts in this way
Because Christians are traitors to the rebellion (verses 18-20)! If we want to be like Jesus in the way he spoke and behaved, we shall be like him in the way he was treated. Compare Matthew 10:24-25. The world persecutes the body of Christ because Christ himself is now out of reach. (Consult Revelation 12 for more on this.)
Christ is hated because he is the perfect representation of his Father. The world does not want to know either the Father or the Son - in fact it hates them (verse 21, 23, 24b, 16:3). Much earlier, Jesus had said, 'The world hates me because I testify that what it does is evil' (7:7). By rejecting his words and works, which comprise the clearest, fullest and ultimate revelation of God to sinners, the world makes its dreadful guilt obvious to all (verses 22,24). Christ's coming into the world secures the judgement of the wicked as surely as the salvation of the righteous. In all this, Jesus was simply fulfilling the Scriptures (verse 25 - see Psalms 35:19; 69:4). We need to make sure we are similarly hated 'without reason'.
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How the faithful Christian reacts to the
world
First, we must be prepared for it. Up till then, Christ had protected his disciples from any persecution. Now the world's guns would be trained on them, he did not want them to imagine he had abandoned them. It was all according to the great Plan (16:1,4). Compare 1 Peter 4:12-16; 1 John 3:13.
Not realising that faithfulness must lead to persecution may cause the Christian to 'go astray'. Or it may cause him to think it is his fault, inclining him to be less clear-cut in his language and lifestyle. Remember 1 John 2:15-17. It is vital that we bear witness to Christ in our daily lives (verse 27). We are to hate the world but to love sinners. This may well encourage more persecution (but, recall 1 Peter 4: 12). On the other hand, just sometimes, by God's grace, we will be listened to (verse 20b).
Why the faithful Christian reacts in this
way
He longs to be like his Saviour, even though it may involve 'the fellowship of sharing in his suffering' (Philippians 3:10). He knows that, if he is persecuted for his faith, he has a great reward waiting for him in heaven (Matthew 5:12). But the main incentive expressed in this passage relates to the ministry of the Holy Spirit (verse 26-27).
We should long to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in his primary ministry of witnessing to Jesus. Much of what the Holy Spirit does in this regard he does through us. We are co-labourers with him in making Jesus known. As we speak about and for Jesus, the Holy Spirit delights to fill and empower us. Compare Matthew 10: 18-26 and Acts 5:27-32. What a calling we have! Let's make sure we are ready 'when the time comes' (16:4). Let's make the same choice as Moses (Hebrews 11 :25-26).