What does it mean that the world hates Jesus?
The world's hatred of Jesus is not accidental; it is the moral response of darkness to light. Because Jesus exposes the works of the world as evil, and because those who belong to Him are no longer of the world, the world that rejected Him will also reject His people. Jesus warned His followers plainly and called them blessed in the face of it, because His victory, and theirs, is assured.
This question arose from studying How does the Spirit convict the world of sin? and Who is Jesus?.
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What the Scripture says
The root of the hatred is the light's exposure of darkness
John gives the reason the world rejects Jesus: 'This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.' Jesus said plainly, 'the world can't hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.' The world does not hate brightness in the abstract; it hates being exposed.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jesus told His followers to expect the same
There was no ambiguity in the warning. 'If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you,' Jesus said, and 'if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' He prayed that His disciples would be kept from the evil one, and He said plainly that the world hates them because they are not of the world, even as He is not of the world. Following Christ means facing some measure of the world's disapproval.
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Because His people belong to another world
The reason for the collision is identity. John explains that if you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, since Christ chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John's brotherly word is measured and calm: 'Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.' The world's friendship is not the Christian's home, and that is why the cross-shaped life can feel at odds with it.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
And it can cost real suffering
This was never a theoretical warning. Jesus told His disciples the hour would come when those who killed them would think they were offering service to God, and Paul states his expectation plainly: 'all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.' Down through the centuries, from the first martyr to believers facing hostility today, following the One whom the world rejected has often carried a real cost. Jesus prepared His people for it, not to frighten them but to steady them.
They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Yet He calls it blessed, and claims the victory
Jesus does not frame the world's hatred as a curse but as a beatitude: 'Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.' Peter echoes it for the insulted. This is not a call to provoke the world, but an honest and joyful promise for those who are faithful when the world turns against them and their Lord; for in this world we have trouble, but He has overcome the world.
“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
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Why does God allow suffering and evil?→Suffering & God's Will trail“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”Is God really in control?→Suffering & God's Will trail“in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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