Tag: hated by the world
No Servant is Greater than His Master
Scripture reading for April 26th: John 15
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 15:18-20 “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.”
Jesus chose His disciples out of the world system of religion and self-exaltation. He called them to follow His own example of servanthood. He went about doing good, casting out devils, and healing the sick and oppressed and calling men and women to repentance and a new life. For this, He was persecuted and ultimately crucified. Some obeyed His teaching and followed Him. Jesus emphasized the need for servant leadership and that persecution would follow those who followed Him. The world system and people in that system would hate them!
Observations for over-comers: We are called out of the world system into the kingdom of God. We no longer belong to that dead system and it will hate and persecute us. We must remember these words of our Master Jesus! “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:1-2)
Hated by the world!
Scripture reading for April 15th: John 7
Jesus’ own brothers did not understand who He was and what His purpose was. They incorrectly assumed that His desire was to become a public figure and have a great following. Jesus wasn’t into politics or religion and it’s trappings! He had come to seek and save lost people, even His brothers!
After His brothers encouraged Him to go up publicly to the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declined saying, “The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil.” (John 7:6-7) Jesus knew the effect of His teaching on the religious people of His day. They desired to kill Him because He brought their hypocrisy to light. He declared truth with authority and demanded repentance and belief in Him and His word. This shocked them because He was not a part of their religious system and not a member of the Pharisees or Sadducees. In violation of God’s law not to commit murder, they were plotting His murder while claiming to follow God’s laws!
Jesus did attend the Feast later and began to teach there. “The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own.” (John 7:16-17) A key to understanding Jesus and His teaching is a sincere desire to know and do God’s will. Many want to hear amazing teaching and have interesting facts, but faith requires belief and action on that teaching of Jesus! Are you ready to do God’s will?