"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 told us in today’s
verses the world hated Him and that the world would also hate us. I desire to share with you about the deaths
of the disciples according to church historians. James was beheaded by King Herod. Philip was hung on a cross and while hanging
he was stoned to death. James the lesser
was stoned to death. Peter was crucified
upside down after surviving imprisonment in the notorious Mamertine prison. Matthew was pinned to the ground and
beheaded. Matthias, the disciple
selected to take the place of Judas Iscariot was beheaded. Andrew was crucified for witnessing to
Maximilla, the wife of a Roman official.
He hung for three days and preached Christ to everyone who walked by him. Judas, also known as Thaddaus, was run
through with a javelin. Bartholomew, also
known as Nathanial, was flayed and then hung on a cross. Thomas was speared to death in India. People can still see his grave in Meliapore,
India to this day. Simon was sawn in
half and John after many years in exile was released and died of old age in
Ephesus. The reason I have shared the
way these men of God died is because they were either crazy or the gospel is
real. Each one of these men died for
their faith. It was not because they
broke a moral law that they were put death.
It was because they preached an offensive message. Jesus Christ is the ONLY name on which one
must call in order to be saved. These
men saw, fellowshipped, and ate with the risen Lord. They knew firsthand the gospel was not some
kind of fabrication. If Jesus’ resurrection
had been some kind of scam, then at least one of these men would have cracked
and forsaken their belief before their death.
But not one of them did. Each one
knew and experienced the opposition and hatred of this world toward
Christ-followers; and yet, they each still went to their deaths willingly to proclaim
Christ Jesus as Lord. Beloved, we ought
to live our lives with such passion and fervency. The urgency of the gospel is before us. How are you going to respond to Jesus?
Questions:
- Are you willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our
Lord?
- Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior?
Prayer: Lord, You laid down Your life for my sin. Give me the courage to live my life for Your
glory. Amen.
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