Time to be hated?

Maybe you’re a people-pleaser (like I am), and like to be liked by the smart and the sensible. If that’s you, then I wonder if Jesus’ words in John 7 will cut you like they did me this morning.

He is speaking with his unbelieving brothers, who want him to go up to the feast in Jerusalem, presumably because they are keen to see him get in some sort of trouble with the authorities. (And if you think brothers wouldn’t do that to each other, you’ve lived much too sheltered a life.)

Jesus says to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.” (Jn 7:6-7)

Their time is still here. And when we speak words that belong to this time, and that don’t challenge this time, we will never be hated. Can’t be hated, in fact.

A disciple is not above his master. If they hated Jesus for testifying to the evil of their works, they will hate us for doing the same. Are you ready to be hated?

 

Comments are closed.