“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. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me” (John 15:18-21).

The world is not sweetness and light; it is darkness against light. It is hatred against light. This is because of Jesus Christ coming into the world.

“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:9).

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20).

When we identify with Jesus Christ, walk in the light (1 John 1:7), and shine as lights in the world, we can expect to be hated by the world as Jesus Christ was hated by the world.

 

Written August 1989.