As We are Unified, Expect Opposition, Part 1

Scripture: John 15:18-20

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

Insights: Jesus modeled God’s perfect standard before the world. As a result, the world was reminded of its evil works and God’s resultant judgment which was eternal damnation in hell. The world hated Jesus because of this constant reminder. They wanted to live their lives however they desired and did not want anyone to dampen their pleasures with the truth of God. One of the saddest commentaries of the modern church is we often times want the same thing these lost people desire. The problem is this kind of “double dipping” life is what James, the brother of Jesus, addressed in his letter. He wrote, “Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.” As a Christ-follower we cannot have it both ways. We cannot have the pleasures of this world and the pleasures of eternity because they are in complete opposition. Jesus said it this way, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Jesus’ life was so heavenly minded that He was actually an earthly good. He pointed people to the salvation the Father was offering them through His Son’s death. He did good to those in pitiable situations. He did not turn a blind eye to the plight of their condition. He was the perfect model of God’s love and He was an affront to the lost world. So, the world hated Jesus and had Him put to death. Fortunately, that was God’s plan all along and in His death He bore the punishment of sin and death. God raised Him on Easter morning and hope has been alive ever since. This verse continues and states that if the world hated Jesus, then it will hate His followers as well. Tomorrow we will look at that aspect of this verse in a little more detail.

Questions:

1. How well do you model Jesus before a lost world?
2. Can anyone tell the difference between their “lost” life and your “saved” life?

Prayer: Lord, the world hated You because You modeled perfectly the standard of God. Your life was an assult on their sensibilities and reminded them of their future judgment. Help me Lord, to live such a life before a lost world. Let Your love shine through me. Amen.