Bible Study - "If the World Hates You" - John 15:18-21, etc.

You may have noticed in recent weeks in our Scripture readings that Jesus warns that Christians will face hatred from the world. In John 15:18-21, Jesus taught His disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but chose you out of the world, the world hates you. 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… All these things they will do to you on account of My name.”

Again, Jesus said, “Whoever hates Me hates My Father also… they have seen and hated both Me and My Father… ‘They hated Me without cause’” (John 15:23-25 and Psalm 35:19). Jesus is quoting from David, who often had much opposition and whose words are prophetic of what Jesus would go through. David knew his faults and sins. See Psalm 69:4-5. But Jesus was sinless and yet suffered so much for us.  Speaking of His coming death, Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice” (John 16:20). Jesus also said, “I have given them (My disciples) Your Word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” And again, Jesus said, “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these (My followers) know that You have sent Me (John 17:14, 25). And James says, in James 4:4, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

In all these verses, “the world” refers to the sinful, evil, fallen world, apart from God and His Word and His will. People following “the world” resist and reject God and His Word and/or are ignorant of Him and simply want to do what they want and choose. This also brings rejection of moral restraints that people don’t like and of views that they don’t like or are too restrictive, like the idea that Jesus alone is the Way to eternal life.

In our own day, this has brought increasing amounts of opposition to and even persecution of Christians. I want to refer you to the website of our national church (lcms.org/freetobefaithful) to hear of some of the challenges we are facing in our own country. Look also to opendoors.org for their WorldWatchList on the persecution of Christians in many countries in the world. It is estimated that 350 million Christians face serious danger in their countries from religious persecution.

Part of this is the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, consisting of 57 nations, 48 of whom are Muslim majority. Other countries with their own religious majorities sometimes give Christians a hard time, and there is limited religious freedom. There is also the influence of Marxist/Socialist/Communist thinking in many countries, including the influence in our own country and of those who are atheist or anti-religious and openly attack Christian views. Tolerance of churches in China is growing less and less, from many reports, too, and there is increasing pressure on Christians in some African countries, as well.

What can we do? We need to pray for persecuted Christians and for the Lord to help those in difficult situations.  We need to be more informed about this whole situation, using resources such as those listed above. We should not be surprised, as Jesus predicts such things, as we heard in the Scriptures above. We need to ask the Lord to strengthen us and our own faith and our churches and to help us keep using God’s gifts of His Word and Sacraments. We can encourage each other in keeping and sharing our faith. We can pray for our school and parents that they are able to prepare children for challenges they will be sure to face in years ahead.

Above all, we keep trusting our Lord and His promises in Christ and His Word. Satan stirs up so much, but Jesus promised, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). And by the way, the church is not built on Peter, but on the Rock of Christ and the confession of faith in Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and our Savior and hope in all things.