Why would the Followers of Jesus be hated?
Should we find it strange, that as followers of Jesus, we will be hated to the extreme Jesus here foretold in these following words? To the point of being arrested, persecuted, and killed?
These following words of Jesus, do not exactly paint the nicest of scenarios for Christian's today do they? In fact, they are quite frightening, are they not?
9 "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers." {Matthew 24:9 NLT}
Can you visualize that hatred? The entire World manifesting this hatred toward you, because you are trying to lead a clean Christian Christ-Like life? It's a clear contradiction in terms isn't it? One would suppose the World would want to see people that concerned themselves about changing their conduct and actions, for their self betterment, and the consideration of others around them, wouldn't you? Why would that bother the people of this World so much, they would resort to persecution and murder to try and hinder you from being a Christian? Why would a true Christian be hated so intensley, by the people of this World, who for the most part profess to be Christian's themselves? Obviously Jesus knew the answer to that, as we see:
18 "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you." {John 15:18 HCSB}
This hatred didn't just stop with Jesus, it went much deeper than just hatred for Jesus; the World hated his Father as well. Keep this in mind. All the while professing to being Christian's themselves.
24 "If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father." {John 15:24 HCSB} Jesus explains why the hatred next:
7 "The people of this world cannot hate you. They hate me, because I tell them that they do evil things." {John 7:7 CEV}
6"If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ." {1 John 2:6 CEV} Of course it follows, that any true Christian today would naturally follow the example set by the Christ, and at every opportunity expose the evil things this world involves themselves in. Just as the Christ would have. This example when followed will bring on them the Worlds persecution as foretold by Paul:
12 "In fact, all those who want to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." {2 Timothy 3:12 HCSB}
4"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it." {John 17:14-16 NIV}
These true Christian's the World hates so intensely, have, as its says, been given the word, and John points out that they are no part of this World. They stand aloof from it. For very good reason. That very good reason was drawn out by Luke at Luke 4:5-8:
5"The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only"{Luke 4:5-8 NIV} At Matthew 4:8-10 Jesus set the example for all true Christian's today, as we note:
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." {Matthew 4:8-10 NIV}
And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon {satan} gave to the beast his power and throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast." {Revelation 13:1-3 NIV} We see in Matthew John's and Lukes account, satan is the unseen power behind all the World Governments that he was offering to Jesus. One vote for any one of them would constitute bowing down in worship to satan the devil. Come election season a true Christian would parrot the words of Jesus: "Get away satan!" That is the reason a true Christian is 'no part of the World,' just as the Master was 'no part of the World.' Where satan is concerned, no part, means no part. Right down until today the World's Christian's haven't gotten the sense of that. Every election time, you'll find them all out there bowing down and giving satan his one act of worship. While making profession they are Christian's. Did you notice?satan has sucked in the entire World? All end up followers of the Beast, while professing to be Christian's. I'm thinking that's why Paul said: "The things which the Nation Sacrifice, they Sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to be sharers with the demons." {1 Corinthians 10:20}
I'm thinking too, it will not be too difficult in the time of the end to tell the difference between those that Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, and those who do not! {John 4:21-24} One class will have intense hatred for the other. Hmmm! Wonder which class is which? Wannabe