When the world hates you

"I hate these moths." "I hate that guy." "I hate you, Mom!"We use the word "hate" casually these days, it's flippant, attached to immediate emotions. But when Jesus uses the word "hate" in John 15, He's talking about something far deeper and far more serious than Michael Scott hating Toby from The Office.Why does the world hate Jesus? And why will it hate us?The answer isn't comfortable, but it's essential: Jesus is divisive. Not because He's aggressive, vindictive, or engaging in rage-inducing clickbait. He's divisive because He's the light of the world. And when light exposes darkness, people don't always respond well.From the very beginning, before creation itself, Jesus has been divisive. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Following Jesus is a choice between light and darkness. There's no middle ground. You're either with Him or against Him.Because Jesus divides, He also exposes us for who we really are, fallen humans desperately in need of a Saviour. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin" (v. 22). The light exposes those living in darkness.But here's the shocking part: We've been chosen by the divisive Son of God to be divisive ourselves. Just as Jesus is divisive, so are His followers. It comes with the territory of being a Christian.Joel shows what worldly hate looks like, and then contrasts it with the spiritual disgust Jesus describes. The hatred Jesus talks about isn't just dislike or frustration. It's eternal separation from the Father.But there's hope. Jesus hasn't left us alone. He's given us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth who testifies about Jesus and empowers us to be witnesses. The same Spirit who convicts the world of sin dwells in every believer.Yet Jesus is clear: If they persecuted Him, they'll persecute us. You might be labeled a bigot, ridiculed at work, kicked out of friendship groups, or worse. Christians around the world face threats, violence, even death. But persecution isn't the goal, victimhood isn't the goal. We've been chosen for this.The encouragement? Live radically obedient lives. Let people reject you because of who Jesus is, not because of you. Abide in Him. Allow the Spirit to do the exposing. And remember: Being hated for following Jesus is a far lighter burden than the knowledge that people you love could be going to hell.Jesus has already won. The darkness has not and will not ever overcome the light that is our Lord Jesus.Series: Revealing Jesus (John 13-17) Speaker: Joel Scripture: John 15:18-16:4