18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 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.”
It never ceases to amaze me how often I forget or simply disregard the clear red flag warnings found in God’s Word. Jesus has stated I should not be surprised if the world hates me – yet I continue to be caught off guard by it causing me much trouble and perplexity. Our Lord’s Words here are meant to bring both comfort and warning to the believer. We are not to be shocked by the harsh treatment of this world. The world will hate us because we are not like it – if we were, we would be loved by it. This will be found true in every generation as believers in the Lord Jesus will always be as aliens in a foreign land. We would do well to remember earth is not our home, rather heaven is. In like manner, I should not be surprised when I experience trials and tribulations on my sojourn here - according to our Lord Jesus, they are a given as well:
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
So much for the name it and claim it and no troubles theory so prevalent in our day! Seriously, could our Lord have been any clearer in either of these passages? If we are His disciples, if we follow hard after Him, chances are very good we will not be embraced by the world – perhaps even hated by it. The carnal mind is enmity against God and God’s image in His people. Furthermore, we can expect trouble. This was exactly how our Lord was treated while His feet trod this dusty earth. From His birth (King Herod) to His death (the cross), He was met with hostility and hatred therefore we should not be surprised at the same treatment. Ridicule, slander, mockery, misrepresentations, etc. still express the feeling of the unconverted towards the true Christian. Real vital Christianity will always bring with it a cross. Paul gives us the following warning:
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim 3:12-13 (NIV)
Peter adds his warning as well:
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14 (NIV)
“Christ’s followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had.” Matthew Henry
“Jesus promised His disciples three things: that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble.” F.R. Maltby
Indeed, James goes so far as to state that if we are friends of this world – the system of organized society that is hostile towards God and under the control of Satan – we are enemies of God. As believers in Jesus, we are not to blend with the world:
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4 (NIV)
Furthermore, Christians are to beware of both the praise and the criticism of man. Our emotions - our significance - are not to be controlled by man at all. Pride – that insidious monster - has served to bring the demise and downfall of many - even more so than the debasing slurs which often simply paralyze us.
“To inoculate me from the praise of man, God baptized me into the criticism of man, until I died to the control of man.” Francis Frangipane
“Because Jesus Christ came into the world clothed in humility, He will always be found among those who are clothed with humility.” A.W. Tozer
The example Jesus set forth for us was to simply not care about man’s opinion rather God’s. We are to live our lives before an audience of One. Our Lord knew what was in the hearts of men – He was well aware of the superficiality which lurked within them. John writes earlier regarding this:
24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. John 2:24-25 (NIV)
“It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man.” John Witherspoon
If our relationship with Jesus is right, all our other relationships will fall out from there. He will guide us in our dealings with men. He calls us to love God and to love others whether they embrace or accept His love or not. We are to show the world Jesus in our jars of clay – leaving behind His aroma in our every encounter.