If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
Jesus was provocative when he appeared on the scene as a teacher and worker of wonders. One would have thought that his complete goodness and unfailing generosity would have been enough to win over even the most recalcitrant hearts. He was kind and full of compassion but there were some who were willing to take this as a kind of weakness. He was not, however, the sort of person who was content to tell others what they wanted to hear when what they wanted to hear differed from what they needed to hear. He thus always spoke the truth whether convenient or inconvenient for himself or for his listeners. His was the first to "preach the word" both "in season and out of season" (see Second Timothy 4:2). It was by proclaiming the truth his Father desired him to reveal that Jesus set the world on fire.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Jesus did not enter an arena of neutrality in which he would find only glad converts. Rather he entered the hostile enemy occupied territory known as the world. Ever since the fall in the garden the world was marked by systems of oppression, darkness, and violence that were opposed to the goodness of God and his plans for the flourishing of humanity. The world in that sense was ruled by the devil which is why he could legitimately offer it to Jesus when he tempted him (see Matthew 4:7-9). It was this hostile system that opposed Jesus. People caught up in it were in reality pawns in an unseen spiritual struggle. Even those most directly responsible for the death of Jesus were not acting from genuine human freedom so much as from the influence of the world in this sense.
We do not belong to the world under the power of the devil precisely because Jesus came on a rescue mission to free us. He was the stronger man who was able to bind the devil and take his away his spoils (see Luke 11:22). He came to "deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery" (see Hebrews 2:15). We should remember, therefore, that other humans, even when they are still in the grip of this slavery, do not deserve our hatred, but rather our compassion. They aren't the real enemy. As Paul wrote, "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (See Ephesians 6:12). This is why we don't often encounter entirely hostile opponents. Usually people are somewhat drawn to Jesus even if the system to which they still belong also causes them to be repulsed to some degree. But there is hope for anyone who can yet perceive the goodness of Jesus in any facet that they may one day embrace him entirely.
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
The world persecutes us not so much by individual hostility and violence but rather by collusion and creation of systems that make it impossible for us to speak the Gospel message. It is not obviously the work of any particular person or group, but rather the outcome of the fallen aspects of many different people being played and used by unseen spiritual forces. In order to prevent such systemic sin from being codified and enshrined in society would require fully conscious and intentional opposition that most people in the world are not sufficiently free to make.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Yet, in spite of the systems of the world and the forces of darkness with a vested interest in suppressing the Gospel, hope always remains. There will never come a time when the word of God is stripped of its power. There will always be those waiting to hear it. They are the ones who would have kept the word of Jesus but now can only gain access to that word through us. Let us not keep them waiting. Rather, let us be attentive to the Spirit as were Paul and his companions. Then the system of the world will not have the final word. Instead, God will connect those with a word to speak with those who need to hear it.
During the night Paul had a vision.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
"Come over to Macedonia and help us."
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