Hated Because of Jesus: Insights on Persecution and Faith
Jesus' Final Words: Understanding Persecution
If with all of His greatness and perfection, Jesus does not escape persecution, what hope is there for us with our imperfections?
—Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 360.
We continue our series on Jesus’ Final Words. This post focuses on John 15:18-25, where Jesus warns His followers that they will be hated because of Him.
Hated
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
— John 15:18 NKJV
When we become familiar with the events of Jesus' earthly ministry, they can become commonplace or unimportant. Until we are mistreated or even hated because of Jesus, then we catch a glimpse of what Jesus experienced during His earthly ministry. We often think about the miracles and wonders, but how often do we reflect on how He was rejected and hated by those who should have welcomed and embraced Him? How often are we eager to receive the praise and glory that belong to God alone? But how does our faith hold when we experience hatred because of our love for Jesus?
I am not downplaying how awful it feels to be hated. It is one of the worst experiences we can go through on this earth. Yet, according to Jesus, we should prepare ourselves for it and not be surprised when it happens.
Jesus was persecuted, among other reasons, because He modeled the standard of God (John 15:10, see Discover Full Joy), so His very presence in the world was a reminder to all of their evil works. When you’re driving above the speed limit, but so is everyone else, it doesn’t feel like you’re doing anything wrong. However, the experience is very different when everyone is going the speed limit, and you are tempted to speed. It is even more distinct if you want to speed, but a police officer is going the speed limit near you.
Jesus calls us to be light (Salt and Light, Matthew 5:13-16), but not everyone wants to be in the presence of light. Some have gotten so used to the darkness that the light offends/angers them.
Historical context
Many believe that John was one of Jesus’ youngest disciples and lived the longest. Additionally, The Gospel According to John is widely regarded as the last book of the New Testament to be written. John’s immediate audience was the generation that did not witness Jesus personally. John’s audience was also suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus, so Jesus’ words must have been very comforting to them. Though the early Christians were suffering, they were reminded that their risen Lord was familiar with the experience of being hated.
Jesus knew that hatred was the mark of the world just as love was to be the mark of the authentic Christian.
—Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 154.
Jesus is familiar with all of our sufferings. Our trials do not go unnoticed; Jesus can relate to our human struggles. (Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 56:8; John 11:35; Isaiah 53:3)
Alien?
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
— John 15:19 NKJV
By alien, I do not mean an extra-terrestrial or a science fiction character, but rather a person who is not of a particular group or place (Meriam-Webster.com)
Early Christian ascetic monks interpreted Jesus’ words to mean they should escape contamination by the world by observing austere self-disciplinary practices and, if possible, exclude themselves from contact with the world. One extreme example is Simeon Stylites, who spent 37 years living on top of a column! He was a Syrian Christian hermit who was the first known stylite, or pillar hermit (from Greek stylos, “pillar”). Originally, Simeon joined a monastic community but was expelled due to his excessive austerities, and he then became a hermit. His first column was 2 metres (6 feet) high, later extended to about 15 metres (50 feet), and the platform is said to have been about 1 square metre (about 11 square feet). (sources: Cf. K. S. Latourette, A History of Christianity (New York: Harper, 1953), 228, 298; and Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002); and Britannica.com)
The issue with this interpretation of Jesus’ will for His followers is that it gets in the way of bearing fruit. How can you be loving towards others when you completely separate yourself from all others?
Elected separation then is not a chosenness to be vaunted before others. Rather, it entails the privilege of being hated and persecuted for bearing fruit on behalf of Christ (cf. also Matt 5:10–11).
—Gerald L. Borchert, John 12–21, vol. 25B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002), 155.
Because of Jesus
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
— John 15:20-21 NKJV
We should not expect to be treated better than Jesus was treated when we live our lives the way Jesus lived His.
The reason we are told to expect hatred is because that’s what ultimately happened to Jesus. Not everyone hated him. He was loved by many, but ultimately He was killed. The hatred we receive as followers of Jesus is ultimately the sign that those who hate us do not know God. What Jesus says here is of great importance. If we are hated, let it be for Jesus’ sake. In other words, may we not give anyone reason to hate us outside of our faithfulness to Jesus.
For example, if people have an issue with you at work, let it be because of your honesty and strong work ethic, for your kindness and desire to help others, and do what is right. If you are rude, lazy, and unreliable, the reason you are disliked has nothing to do with Jesus. Maybe you’re not working at your dream job, but the way you conduct yourself reveals to others (and yourself) the content of your character. We also become what we practice. You may not like your boss or your current work conditions. I pray you find better work. But the day you leave, may everyone you worked with miss you because you were the best worker they ever had.
In this aspect, may we be like Daniel.
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
— Daniel 6:1-5 NKJV
Judgment
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
— John 15:22-24 NKJV
This verse provides us with valuable insight into judgment. According to Jesus’ own words, the people are judged based on their rejection of the gospel, not on their ignorance of the gospel. The problem is not that they tried but were not good enough, but that they rejected all the evidence God provided them.
This helps me with the question of what happens to those who were never exposed to the gospel. Based on this text and others (Luke 12:47-48; Romans 1:18-32; Matthew 25:31-46), I believe that we are condemned for rejecting the light God makes available to us. Though we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; 5:1-2; Titus 3:7), when we reject Jesus, we are then judged by our actions (Romans 2:6; Revelation 20:12; Proverbs 24:12).
When we accept Jesus, we can face judgment without fear because we are covered by Jesus’ righteousness (Philippians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Genesis 15:6; Romans 3:21-26), so when we stand on the day of Judgment, God looks at us and sees Jesus’ perfect life.
Jesus’ earthly ministry demonstrated that the reason people do not believe in God is not a lack of evidence, signs, wonders, or intellectual arguments. So do not burden yourself with convincing others of truths about God. You can share, and you should have valid reasons for your faith. However, it is not your job to convince others. Jesus lived a perfect life of love and generosity. Jesus healed many and even raised the dead, yet people were determined to not only reject Him but also to kill Him. (John 12:10) If Jesus was rejected, hated, and persecuted, don’t take it personally that everyone you share the gospel with is not willing to believe.
Not surprising
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
— John 15:25 NKJV
None of this is surprising. Not only did the Old Testament already contain this theme, since Jesus was quoting from the Old Testament, possibly from Psalm 35:19; 69:4; 109:3-5, and in the New Testament, James makes this principle even clearer.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
—James 4:4 NKJV
The key phrase is without a cause. Our lives should be lived in such a way that there would be no cause for anyone to hate us, except because they have rejected God and therefore attack God’s character as reflected in our daily lives.
Don’t force it
Please don’t take Jesus’ words to mean that you now need to go out of your way to make sure people hate you. Do not cry every time Hollywood or the music industry does something that offends Christians. You are not being persecuted because a separation of church and state exists, or because your boss does not want you giving Bible studies during your work shift. You are not being persecuted because they don’t pray before a football game or a town hall meeting.
Don’t be the reason people avoid churches and Christians in general. Be the reason people become interested in Jesus. But do not be surprised if many are bothered by the light of character of God being reflected in your life.
